With a heavy heart, Bev agreed that the row of die-back ash along the north wall needed to be felled. The self-sown trees were showing clear signs of the disease and the branches were becoming brittle and therefore dangerous to climb. In the event, tree surgeon Mark hired in an impressive piece of kit, called Merlo, which after a stuttering start devoured the nine trees in a day, something that would have taken perhaps four using a traditional climbing approach.
While we’re sad to bid farewell to the ash, their removal has opened up the view over Barn Hill, including sight of two Cedar of Lebanon, and this corner of the plot is now lighter and more open.
Chris and Bev - Heads in the Clouds 