Thanks for the kind words Richard, good idea on the tree planting for Heather's family as well, I'd not considered that.
I've never been keen on ending up in a graveyard, to the point of opting for cremation instead but am now thinking about the woodland burial option.
I find visiting cemeteries cold and depressing and don't expect my family to do it for me, a visit to a woodland seems different somehow.
I thought the tree was diseased but we spoke at length with a Forrester who was clearing up on the estate and he said it can be a natural defence mechanism. A dry tree is less likely to topple because of reduced weight and this is why old dead trees withstand a storm when seemingly healthy ones fall.
This seems to back up his explanation.
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2017/08/ancient-hollow-trees/
