We are on the edge of a storm today. Walking around our hill with the dogs this morning, we realised that a usually dark corner of the lane seemed brighter. Trees were bending across a patch of stormy grey sky. At the side of the lane, two fine mature ash trees and a holly lay, felled by the wild winds of last night. One had just missed the cottage behind the hedge.
A closer look at the snapped off trunk showed evidence of disease, maybe a fungal rot, to the right of the centre. Perhaps this weakness left the tree, in full leaf, unable to withstand the force of wind that pushed at it all night.
A hazy close up of the internal structure of the tree, snapped and torn in such clear geometric shapes.
When we first looked at this photo, we both had an image of the Twin Towers in New York on 9/11. How those dreadful images must be seared into the minds of everyone who saw them around the world.
The second ash tree had fallen at right angles to the first, uprooted at its base and lying across hedge and fence.
Again, there were signs of rot and disease in the roots nearest to the earth.
The cottage is empty at present, but its owner has a huge task ahead, mending fences, clearing snapped branches and the mass of green foliage that now submerges the garden.
A sad end to two lovely trees that shaded this Forest lane for many years.
8 comments:
It just shows the power of the wind to wreak such havoc, but better diseased trees to have been taken out than ones in good health. Just think of the opportunity for life the new opening in the canopy will have made for wild flowers and other small trees to grow.
I understand that winds have to be 60-70 mph to do that kind of damaged. (Sorry, don't know that in km.)
I hope the wood can be salvaged. It would be nice if someone could use the wood to make something besides a fire. The death of these big trees leaves the way open for new seedlings to fight for sky.
Great photos - so sad about the trees but as others have said - an opportunity for seedlings to flourish. But what a shock for the owners of the cottage.
Wonderful photos and really interesting to see the internal structure and disease. Terrible shame but I won't be showing my partner.....he gets very excited at the sight of fallen ash as potential fuel. Best burner there is he says.
Oh dear, the wind force must have been staggering! The owners will count their blessings I am sure to see their cottage safe and sound!
Interesting the photo of the '9/11' wood...or just rather chilly...A day not son forgotten by many!
Thanks for sharing,
I've spotted three trees that have been blown over in the last few days, it is quite worrying that they could cause damage to buildings and people.
Goodness, how very dramatic.
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