Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Storm Arwen aftermath

What a wonderful phrase.

Cooperman .... what does show up is that when a plantation goes in then pretty soon all trees aren't equal .... they create their own environment .... the trees on the outside grow from saplings being buffeted by winds and getting uninterupted light ... they grow stouter with big root system and full, heavily branched,trunks .... those inside are sheltered by them and soon get their light only from above .... they grow straight, more slender and with pretty much only the roots they need to feed ... no formed side branches and a tuft of branches at the top where the light is .... they make good straight timber with few knots.

You can see from the pic, where the 'guard' trees have gone down the inner trees have fallen like dominoes pushing corridors deep into the blocks of trees .... the challenge will be to shape what's left to minimise the stress on those now-exposed inner trees while they toughen up. .... it will be windy days that challenge the trees that will push them into more root growth ... the killer would be another 'once in 70 year' storm that comes along before they've grown into their new situation.

K

It's an old Greek proverb.

Our son and his girlfriend started their plantation off ten years ago when he was 27 and has now gone to University at 37 studying Horticulture/Environmental bias at the Eden Project allied to Plymouth University and loves it. Their seven years of living properly off grid with zero electrickery whatsoever or water is a good foundation.
They still find time to surf and swim year round and his girlfriend keeps them fed and watered and we send a few food parcels down to help it all along.
I am hopeful for the future all the time we have people like them around us

Well done Keith, and to your son and partner Richard. More diversity of species can only be good for the environment and wildlife.

You'd also be surprised at how quickly a wood can mature. Mrs D had an uncle pass away from covid in March 21, he chose a woodland burial site that was started around 20 years ago. We couldn't attend the funeral but have visited since and I was struck by how well established it has become. Mostly Scots pine but some birch and a handful of other species. As well as a tree you can have Spring flowering bulbs, all instead of a headstone. Many of the more mature trees have well stocked bird feeders hanging on them and it's wonderfully peaceful.

On our walk today I spotted this. The hole in the centre is around 2 meters deep.

Gordon, I am really sorry to hear about Mrs. D's loss of her uncle due to covid.
What a lovely spot to chose for a final resting place he made, the bulb planting sounds a really nice touch.

When we lost Heather's brother aged 39 he joined his Father in the family grave (in Norfolk) but we planted several trees in a local Woodland Trust (Watkins Wood) site in his memory.
Sadly we lost his Mum two years ago and have been unable to place her with her husband and son yet due to covid restrictions/risk, as with Jim we had more trees planted on the same Woodland Trust site, it is a lovely place of quiet in the secluded South Devon Avon valley and a lovely place to visit. Watkins

Is the fallen tree just old age Gordon or is that a disease do you think ?

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/

Jess was cremated but Garnock Valley Crematorium plant a tree for everyone of their customers.

That's a nice idea as well Bob, good to have something that benefits nature and gives you a place to visit should you wish. Not something currently offered by the crematoriums up this way as far as I know but nothing to stop a family organising it themselves.

Not a very cheerful thread drift this , but something that has to be considered I suppose.
Back on thread, it's getting quite breezy here just now with warnings in place for ice, snow and winds up to 50mph.