Churchyard Nature Note with Andrew Tompsett
February 2010
Trees – beautiful, but a responsibility
I'm sure all will agree that trees add enormously to the beauty and serenity of our churchyard but there is another side to the matterwhich we do well to recognise.
In a gale at the end of last year a massive ash treecame crashing down. Fortunately
it happened at night and no harm or damagewas caused. It is a loss but it will be replaced.
This event underlines the importance of regular health checks, bearing in mind so many people including parents and
children walk through our grounds.
So, every two years we invite a qualified arboriculturist to inspect the trees and advise on any action required. In his inspection last autumn he identified four other large specimens which need to be felled. Again, this must be done professionally and will cost quite
a large sum.
You may recall the large Evergreen Oak
at the East End of the Church which, because of extensive rotting, had to be removed two years ago and costus £1200.(However, since it wasremoved have you noticed how the morning sun gloriously lightup our East window?)
In the course of the next month or so we will
see
a change in the appearance of the North Drive particularly. However, the gaps will be filled with new trees as soon as the work is done
The churchyard, of all places, reminds us
of ‘tempus fugit’ and that familiar things
will pass away and be replaced. Biologists and foresters call it ‘succession’ .
We have young oaks, ashes,elmsand chestnuts awaiting their chanceand as
native species these will maintain the character and associated wildlife of our churchyard.
The churchyard, of all places, reminds us of ‘tempus fugit’and that familiar things will pass away and be replaced. Biologists and foresters
call it ‘succession’
