Bad Day at Red Row

After a short hard fight that lasted all of two days I had to concede defeat. A few days ago two large orange spots appeared on an ancient oak that has resided 50 yards from my home forever.

Lancashire County Council had apparently deemed it unsafe as it has a hole in it. A hole much beloved by Tawny Owls, Spotted Woodpeckers and Great Tits in seasons gone by.

Two days ago the tree fellers came by to do the deed. But I and the other ten resident stood our ground. And they left. This morning they returned with reinforcements. I parked my car next to the old guy to prevent their chainsaws, while I tried to contact someone higher in the council. But it was to no avail. The police were called, I was threatened with arrest. The neighbours caved in leaving me and my eldest Tanya to argue and stand our ground. Eventually I had to relent but not before the local papers got here to document the story.

They began demolishing the lovely huge lush canopy, leaving a bare trunk. Green leaves and new acorns litter the lane.

The tree is now gone. The lane is sorrowful. The rot that was the root of his death?? Absolutely none existent. The trunk is a clean and fresh as a young sapling. Too late. They won. I am seeing red... Tanya is in tears...