Crafting Besom Brooms from Birch and Gorse

Why a Birch and Gorse Besom Belongs in Your Garden

A besom is more than a broom. It is a piece of living hedgerow heritage, shaped by hand from native trees and shrubs. Unlike a plastic yard brush, a besom sweeps leaves and paths with a gentle, rhythmic action that suits gravel, grass, and stone. The traditional craft uses birch twigs for the brush, a hazel pole for the handle, and gorse or willow for the binding. Every part comes from the UK countryside, and every part can be harvested without harming the parent plant. If you garden with native species, making a besom is a natural next step. It connects your autumn leaf clearance to the older rhythms of coppicing and hedgerow management.

Gathering Birch, Hazel, and Gorse from the Hedgerow

Harvest in winter, when sap is down and the wood is flexible but not soft. Always ask the landowner's permission, and cut sparingly from healthy stands. A good besom needs three materials:

• Birch twigs: Silver birch (Betula pendula) or downy birch (Betula pubescens) are ideal. Choose twigs no thicker than a pencil, about 60–90 cm long. Cut them from dense clusters where they grow straight. Avoid taking from the tips of young trees.
• Hazel handle: Hazel (Corylus avellana) gives a strong, lightweight pole. Look for a straight stem 1.5–2 metres long and 3–5 cm in diameter. Cut it in winter whilst dormant.
• Gorse or willow ties: Common gorse (Ulex europaeus) has long, flexible stems that make excellent bindings. Alternatively, use willow rods from osier (Salix viminalis) or grey willow (Salix cinerea). Soak either in water before use to prevent snapping.

Preparing Your Materials for Binding

Preparation is where a good besom is won or lost. Spread your birch twigs in a dry, airy shed for three to four weeks. They should become papery and snap when bent, but not brittle. Strip any remaining leaves and sort the twigs into bundles of similar length. For the handle, remove the bark with a drawknife or spoke shave, then sand it smooth. Taper one end to a blunt point — this will sit inside the broom head. Do not varnish the handle; bare wood grips better and ages beautifully. Soak your gorse or willow ties in a bucket of water for at least four hours. Never bind with dry gorse; it will crack and fail. If you are using green birch, stop. Green twigs shrink as they dry, and your besom will fall apart within weeks.

Tying the Besom: A Step-by-Step Method

Lay a bundle of 30–40 birch twigs on a flat surface, with the thicker ends pointing upwards. Fan them out so they form a rough circle about 40 cm across. Place the hazel handle on top, with the pointed end towards the twig tips and the handle extending about 30 cm beyond the top of the bundle. Now gather the twigs around the handle, folding them over so they wrap the pole. Take your soaked gorse or willow and tie a tight binding about 10 cm from the top of the twigs. Use a figure-of-eight motion, pulling firmly. Add a second binding 15–20 cm lower down. Weave the ends back under the binding and tuck them in. Finally, trim the bottom of the birch twigs level with a sharp pair of shears. The secret is tightness: a loose besom sheds twigs and sweeps poorly. If you can slip a finger under the binding, it is too slack.

Sweeping, Storing, and Maintaining Your Besom

Use your besom with a pushing motion, not a pulling one. Short, brisk strokes lift leaves and debris without wearing the twigs unevenly. On grass, keep the head just above the surface. On gravel or stone, a slightly firmer push works well. After use, shake out any trapped leaves and store the besom hanging by its handle, head downwards, in a dry shed. Never leave it standing on the twigs or lying in damp grass. If the binding loosens, soak it again and re-tighten. When the twigs wear down, you can unpick the binding, add fresh twigs, and re-tie. A well-made besom can last several seasons with this simple care.

Planting for Future Brooms: Native Plants in Your Garden

To keep this craft alive, plant the species it depends on. Birch, hazel, and gorse are all UK natives that support wildlife and thrive in a range of soils. Birch is a pioneer tree, good for damp or poor ground. Hazel responds well to coppicing, producing straight poles for handles every few years. Gorse fixes nitrogen and provides dense nesting cover. Even a small garden can grow a hazel stool or a multi-stem birch. By harvesting your own twigs and ties, you close the loop between garden and hedgerow. The besom you make will sweep your paths, and the plants you tend will supply the next one. That is a quiet, practical kind of heritage — and it starts with a winter cutting and a piece of string.