Definitely recommend West Wales Willows - they use their own home grown willow and the farmer is a willow expert, he will talk you through willow. With over 200 willow species in this country there is a lot to know! :lol:
Rabbits are best with low salicin level willow, although the older the branch the more salicin it may contain as well. New growth/young growth is best for lower levels although no-one actually knows if salicin will do bun any harm anyway, it is a natural anti-inflammatory and analgesic and is what aspirin comes from. At WWW they will peel any high salicin levelled willow they use for toys (remove the bark).
Most imported willow toys are made in China and the willow grown god only knows where with pesticides/herbicides thrown in no doubt so your best bet is to get a local UK grown willow toy (from WWW) or pick your own willow branches from the garden/countryside.
If you want to know how high the salicin levels are you need to 'chew' the twigs yourself!
If it tastes bitter it is ok - if it sucks all the moisture out of your mouth then it probably is too strong! :lol::wave:
I have given mine weeping, corkscrew and white willow species picked locally, and they have all their toys from WWW.