Death Warrant

And with one simple spray from an aerosol this oak tree is condemned to death. Very rough estimates put this tree at approximately eighty years old. Now don't get me wrong, I love harvesting and burning firewood, but I only ever take trees that are deadfall i.e. already on the ground. I find it very hard to look at what seems to be a perfectly fine specimen and to think of it being felled, but inside, out of sight, it is rotten and in danger of falling down. So down it must come...

It was an early start this morning when I had a phone call to report the footpath alongside the River Almond being blocked by a fallen branch so it was out with the chainsaw and a couple of hours later the job was done and the good citizens that live beside the river can walk it easily once more without having to suffer the indignity of getting their leg over or indeed under the fallen branch. And I've found myself with another weeks worth of firewood.

Very, very stormy today. Not good for trees laden with leaf to have to suffer such strong winds. Think it's going to be a busy day tomorrow!