by Steve Tanham
Our beloved ash tree, which defines the far end of the garden, is doomed.
We have several ash trees around the perimeter of the garden, and they – like all the others in this part of the world – seem destined to be either felled or cut right back to a small spread around the main trunk; the latter being left standing as a low-risk object.
Our tree specialist has advised that the process won’t kill the tree, and that it is not known if this might end the die-back disease, with possible recovery. It seems unlikely but we can have hope. Even in the best scenario it will take decades to recover, so we’ll not be here to see it return to its present glory. Let’s hope it brings others the same greeting each day that it’s given us…
There are three trees that need similar work, so it looks like I’ll be spending the next few months chain-sawing wood and chopping it for the log-burner in the house. Good to have the fuel, but that’s my winter sorted…
The ash in question is our largest, and borders on a neighbour’s garden, so they will be relieved at least.
A sad time.
©Stephen Tanham 2023
Stephen Tanham is a Director of the Silent Eye, a journey through the forest of personality to the dawn of Being.
http://www.thesilenteye.co.uk and http://www.suningemini.blog
Sun in Gemini 
Fingers crossed it saves your beloved Ash tree for the future …
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Thank you, Carol ❤️
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I hate it when trees die; it’s so sad… hopefully, your beloved Ash tree will survive, Steve…
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Thank you, Jaye ❤️
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This is sad news. But I guess all things die, eventually. Perhaps it will be revived and give pleasure to a future generation.
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Thank you, Darlene ❤️
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A momentous and deeply sad event, to lose a big, familiar tree, Steve. I’ve lost a few in the wild so to speak that have been with me since childhood. I am also watching a venerable Ash slowly dying back in a neighbour’s garden. Yours is a fine looking fellow. The surgery sounds drastic, and will dramatically change your outlook whatever the outcome.
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Thanks for the empathy, Michael 😀
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Hope it survives Steve. We miss the trees of the forest we visited with Maggie every day, not to mention the huge bramley apple tree we had in the garden at the cottage. Love trees.
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Thank you, Di. Our own bramley is close by and in rude health, happily.
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rude health?? Makes its own cider perhaps! Take care.
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Now that would be nice!
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Cuts out the middle man Steve!!
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It is sad when you lose a tree. We’ve had to cut down two that were struck by lightening and became a fall risk. One was Eleanor ( pet hadeda bird’s) tree so we had to help her find a new tree.
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Thank you, Robbie. They do become ‘part of the family’ don’t they!
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Very much, and all the creatures that live in them.
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Hugs 💜💜💜
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Thank you, Willow ❤️
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Very sad. We lost two over the years and while the garden has developed in different ways as a positive it’s the structure they give the backdrop that is most missed
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Yes, that’s the real cost. Like someone’s stolen the paper from your watercolour! Thanks Geoff.
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