The Oak

The oak in our neighbours’ lane has dropped a huge branch which is what happens when even moderate winds occur in high summer.  I am trying to see it as natural and not something that will wound the tree.  The branch has been moved to either side of the road and I am sure will be honoured eventually, knowing the people that own the land.  

I love oak

Another neighbour lives in a house that is a similar age (1570) and layout to ours but hers got rebuilt before it was listed and so lost its thatch.   She asked a builder to check for woodworm because of some large holes in her oak beams but he said they were holes made by sea wasps (?) from when the oak beams had been ships timbers before they were recycled as building timber.  Mind totally blown.  That could mean the oak beams came from trees standing during the Battle of Hastings.  Is that really so?  

Mind you they are like concrete - you can’t bang a nail into them.