Wednesday 4 September 2013

Surgical action

I took some stuff by car to the municipal re-cycling centre this morning, and went for a replacement flourescent tube for the kitchen lighting unit at Alan Wilson Electrical, which had exactly what I needed in stock. On my return, I could hear the buzz of a chainsaw nearby and found that access through the lane to our street was blocked by a lorry with a warning sign stating that tree felling was in progress. When I went up to my study at the back of the house, this is what I saw.
It was the end for the tallest tree in the back gardens of our neighbourhood. Several more look as if they've not been pruned for decades, including the leylandia and hawthorn either side in the picture above. Certainly if the tree being felled had come down in a gale in the direction of the house, its top branches would have landed on the roof of the kitchen extension. So, much as I hate aboricide, this was a good precaution, whether linked to garden remodelling plans or not.

That leylandia stands in the garden across the lane nearest ours. It had grown to twice the acceptable size for a tall hedge and cast a shadow over the flower beds in our garden for the best part of the day in summer, even worse in winter. Much to our delight, this was the lumberjack's next target. Hopefully, the extra light will make some difference to growth potential next year.
This is how it looks after surgery. Our flower bed is still in shade at midday, but not for quite as long. Now if this was Switzerland there'd be a communal regulation height of two metres for leylandia hedges and a uniformed officer to come around and remind you of your civic duty, then a notice of penalty for you to pay in the post if you ignore the advice. Would it work here?

No comments:

Post a Comment