Fallen majesty

A sick-bed blip, with a little time spent on photo-collage because I'm feeling so low, but not as low as this magnificent specimen felled in its prime.

Even this collage doesn't really do justice to the sheer scale of the beech tree that's fallen across the burn. It's so sad to see a tree in its prime cast down. The weight of the water in our recent floods undermined the roots so much that it could no longer support itself.

The debris is causing the burn to back up and increases the risk of further flooding. Already the path on the bank further upstream is regularly underwater. I think it's time to organise another working party to clear the debris. On the other hand, if beavers were reintroduced into Scotland then this damming and flooding would be common-place. Hmmmm, should we intervene or leave nature to her own devices?