Corkscrew Willow advice please

Hello all, seeking some advice please. I've been told this is a corkscrew willow.
Is it meant to look like this at this time of year - i.e. no buds, not much going on?

 

Hello @LilyTL , how old is this tree approximately?

From:Corkscrew Willow: Grow This Contorted Tree For Its Twisted Stems And Trunk | Horticulture.co.uk

“However, this is a fairly short-lived species, and will usually live around 30-50 years before dieback starts to occur.”

Maybe you can check it for diseases, described in that page.
It should have by now shown signs of new growth. Maybe the drought last year caused dieback.

 

Thank you - we've only just moved into the house so not sure how old the tree is. However it was in full leaf last September, could it die off between then and now? It's a lovely tree, I do hope it survives.

 

Do you have opera glasses or binoculars? You could see if there are buds starting to open. I wouldn’t necessarily expect leaves but Catkins. But I’m not an expert in this. I checked my images when I took a picture of a willow and this had male Catkins at the end of March.

 

No buds - no activity.

 

Thank you Shiney. So sad if we're going to lose this tree. Do you know if it can be saved? I wonder, if it is pollarded well this year, might it come back next year?

 

Here's the tree last September.

 

Hi

Are you confident it’s a willow , it maybe a Ash tree and they havnt started to come into leaf yet

we had a very hot dry summer last year , maybe that as well

Spruce

 

Funnily enough I do have opera glasses, and they are useful, even if I don't go to the opera!

 

I don't think that it's a willow either. The growth isn't twisted and the leaves look like they have lobes.

 

@Silver surfer may be able to help ?

 

There may be a sign of life - what do you think?
A professional gardener who passed by, offering his services, told me it is a willow. Here are a couple more pics that may help. Thank you all!