The history of the besom broom can be traced back to pagan times, when a stick tied with brush twigs was the best way to keep the floor of a dwelling clean. Besom brooms had all sort of other meanings, associated with keeping evil spirits at bay, presumably as they could ‘sweep away’ things you didn’t like. More elaborate versions included bushy herbs such as rosemary and sage, but none of these are as hard wearing as birch. Today there are very few besom brooms being made in the UK as the market has been flooded with cheap imports or replaced by leaf blowers.