Timberrrr!!!

 

This is an ancient Ash tree which grows on the boundary of our land.  It has been dieing all the time we have been here, although in the first few years it did manage to grow a few new branches and twigs. However, the last ten years it has been standing there rotting, and various big rotten branches have fallen/been snagged on the other upright trunks (it split into 4 different upright trunks - perhaps having been pollarded when a young tree - which was probably 200 years ago or so).  

Anyway, Tam was checking the oil tank for us yesterday when she heard a tremendous crack and crash and another upright of the tree fell down, bring two big snagged boughs with it.  We went up to check it out.

You can see the bit that broke off (and it's completely rotted through) and the tree next to it was decimated by the fall.  The wood has gone into the gulley beside our stream, and out of sight.  Below - close up shot.

You can see disease is rife in the tree - I expect some wildlife are taking advantage of this though.

Finally, a view of the back of our house from our top field.  The grey bit on the left are slates, put up in late Victorian times I think.  Lots of our family memories are tied up in this house . . .