End of an Ancient Tree – The Completely Wrong Solution

This is the sad sad end of an ancient tree in Rushden and it is the completely wrong solution. This solution sets an awful example to our children and grand children.

This is the sad end of an ancient tree and cutting it down is completely the wrong solution. No doubt parts that can be salvaged will be burned compounding the error. If unsafe then in a public park care should be taken for public safety by fencing it off and putting up a warning sign. Even judicial lopping of dangerous limbs is great but leave them where they fall.

An Unnecessarily Abrupt End of an Ancient Tree

This tree had another fifty to one hundred years to contribute to our ecosystem. We need to stop tidying up, its a crazy human obsession. Its future was for invertebrates, insects, nesting birds, maintenance of underground ecosystems involving fungi. Some parts may have continued in leaf for another 30 years or more.

The tree was dying, yes a sad end of an ancient tree, but it had years to contribute and the council could simply plant a replacement or two in the enclosure created. Another Beech and maybe an Oak and some Blackthorn turning the sad demise into a wildlife opportunity.

Here are some birds that would happily have used the decaying trunk for roosting, nests and food: Barn and Tawny owls, Woodpeckers, Blue Tits, Great tits and Nuthatches. Mammals too such as stoats or weasels (I hesitate to mention Grey Squirrels as they are none native and so very destructive).

Eventually the decayed wood would have become soil which is also another natural resource we continue to destroy.

If this tree were on private land it would be different and easier to deal with, but no doubt it would still be likely to be felled as “free firewood”. Another current issue is Ash Die Back. These trees are being felled in their thousands. By all means cut them down if a real danger to life, but replace them and don’t burn the wood, use it for wildlife. Our Shepherds of the Trees project would have handled this differently.

Have a look at the end of an ancient tree in Enfield

Here with thanks is the link to the original article – People ‘heartbroken’ as ancient beech tree felled, Martin Heath, BBC News, Northampton