I posted this image on the 1st of February. A favourite Chestnut Tree that I pass most days and just one of many images of this tree that have featured across the seasons and years on this blog. But alas no longer does it stand tall and majestic with its sweeping tentacle like branches.
This morning as I headed through the woods there was an earth shattering bang….and we soon found the cause. The high winds and exceptionally wet ground combined to fell this once mighty tree…..
The Chestnut was the biggest casualty of the storms. A Scots Pine also fell, its top heavy foliage was the pendulum that brought about its undoing…..as it was left in an unsafe position the chainsaws were soon out…..
Elsewhere the damage was to Birch that had grown ‘over tall’ through lack of woodland management or weaker trees that were not at their best….it might be natures way but it is still a sad sight to witness.
All one can do against such powerful forces is to count the rings and visualise the number of years these trees have withstood what nature has thrown there way…..
15th February
© David Oakes 2014
DAVID OAKES - IMAGES. 
And the result being? I get something like 38-40 years?
LikeLike
The Pine I guess about 45 on a rough count. But the Chestnut has to be much older….I will check if it ever gets cut up.
LikeLike
Sad…. I do feel a little like Idefix, the little dog that’s always with Obelix in the comic. He howls when a tree gets uprooted.
LikeLike