Learning Tree.

When Jnr first learnt to read, favourite books were the “Learning Tree” series by Ian Page featuring a talking horse chestnut that gave two young children lessons about the environment; it was part of a government initiative. Amazon has a few second hand copies for sale, but outside this context, there is very little information about them on line. At the time (35 years ago), this tree (I think it was the right species) was a splendid specimen that we regularly visited – me walking a pedigree dog called Pudd’n’ and Jnr on his bike. Many years ago, most of its branches fell off and it is now pretty rotten though I have never seen any interesting fungi on it.

We took Merlin there today, driving the half mile to the Chapel car park and walking him from there. What would have been a fifteen minute round trip a year or so ago took us a full hour today; the lad is showing his age. He regularly falls down steps if our attention is diverted, and today he fell off the pavement kerb but, being a corgi with that breed's short legs, his total fall was measured in a handful of inches and so only his pride was hurt, but but it left us wondering how much longer he will remain with us.