Alnus glutinosa
19th January 2013
When I moved into the garden I had to plant a lot of seedlings of common trees to act as a windbreak
(not that I can't break wind, but these did it with more style). As the years roll by they grow larger
and more effective but eventually they become too large for the space, or I change my fickle mind and need the space.
The consequence is that from time to time a few have to be removed. In this case the branches all came off and then
the remaining trunks were felled with perfect precision. In the circumstances this means they didn't hit anything
important on the way down.
I still have a few large Alders and I am fond of them. On one magical winter day a few years ago I found them
shimmering in a flock of feeding Siskins. I will keep them as long as I possibly can.