Saturday 21 November 2015

My Friend The Tree Is Dead*

For the average German the forest is more than just the sum of the trees. When trees are threatened, Germans go on the warpath. I well remember the time of the late 70s when “sour rain” (i.e. acid rain), supposedly coming from Scandinavia, caused the great dying of the forests, particularly coniferous forests like the Schwarzwald (Black Forest). At the time the damage was thought to be irreversible. In Germany the forest is not only a cultural landscape formed through forestry and the result of modern recreational activities ranging from GPS-guided hikes to treetop trails. Much more than that, the woods and trees possess great symbolic, spiritual and fairytale-like charismatic powers and have always been celebrated in German poetry, art and music. Many of the fairy tales collected by the Brothers Grimm are set in Enchanted Forests.  In this way the forest is deeply rooted in the German consciousness – not only when we are using the woods for recreational purposes.

Two millennia ago, when Germany was 90% woodland, (compared to about 20% now) the army of Hermann defeated the then greatest military power on earth, the Roman army, by setting an ambush in a narrow corridor between  impassable swamps on one side and hilly, thicketed forests on the other, the great battle of the Teutoburger Wald in 9 AD. The victory gave the woodland warriors a symbol of invincibility in the forest.

Even hard-headed German politicians subscribe to the cult of trees; in a 1983 interview Chancellor Helmut Kohl said : mythology,  Germans and the forest, they all belong together.

still standing - beech and truncated horse chestnut

Which brings me to the death of our own ancient horse chestnut. It has been sickening for some time - a few years ago we lightened its load by having the sail trimmed drastically - but during the recent gales on two consecutive days and nights it finally gave up the fight. During the first night the left hand fork came down and the next night the long branch on the right collapsed. No one was hurt but the garden beneath took a direct hit. My heart broke when I saw the terminally damaged giant.

the left fork

There was no help for it, the tree had to come down completely. Tree fellers moved in and set to work, trimming what was left of the canopy, power-sawing, chopping and chipping mercilessly, and carting the slaughtered remains away.



There is now a great gap in the hedge, allowing clear views across the valley; you’d say that’s not so bad, but it also allows the wind coming up the valley funnel newly opened access to the garden, probably bringing down several smaller trees which were damaged in the giant’s fall in the process.

The damage to the woodland garden is considerable, tree fellers trampling all over it during the removal of the horse chestnut hasn’t done it any favours. Fences are down, the leaf mould enclosure is no more, and a few terracotta pots have been shattered, their contents lost in the general mayhem.

As a dedicated tree hugger minus one very special specimen I am very sad.



*Title borrowed from a German song by Alexandra
 "Mein Freund Der Baum Ist Tot".



26 comments:

  1. My mumme lives in Northern Germany right now ... no suffering of trees there ... as she is busy raking leaves and gathering oak and chest nuts for the deer and wild boar ... Love, ct.

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  2. I'll be cutting down an old apple tree today. I'm 66, and suspect that it's older than I, but it's hollow, dying, and threatening to fall on my house, so there's no help for it. I'm sorry about your tree. There are a lot of huge horse chestnuts here in western Oregon, USA.

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  3. I am so sorry. I too am a dedicated tree hugger. And mourn their passing.

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  4. It is very sad but it had reached the end of its life it seems. Help the world by planting one to replace it. You might not see it to old age, but someone will and love it.

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  5. I feel for you. Our huge madera negra came down in a recent storm and had made a terrible gap..yes, there are views - but there are other views and we miss that tree - as do the birds.
    We've planted another.

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  6. I'm so sorry, Friko. I love the trees, too, and even though it's perfectly natural for them to reach the end of their allotted life span, it's equally natural to grieve their loss. When the law of unintended consequences shows up in the aftermath (that wind, for example) we realize things have changed in more ways than the loss of one tree.

    I visited the Black Forest in the 1970s -- 1976, I think. It was winter, and I was on vacation from my job in Liberia. The accountant at our hospital was from the area, and I was able to stay at his parents home: cattle below, traditional home above, and the most sainted Oma, up at 4 a.m. making delicious pastries and rolls.

    I still remember the walk I took in the woods during that visit. There was deep snow, and it began to snow again, and it was just breathtaking.

    I thought your mention of Hermann's army taking out the Romans was particularly interesting. I don't know, but I do suspect that the German benevolent society here, the Sons of Hermann, probably is named for him. I'll have to check that out.

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  7. I can only imagine how sad you are. I'm sure you will always only the see the gapping hole left behind for a very long time. That sound like a very negative statement, but I know that is how I would feel. The loss of a beloved tree is no small thing. I'm sorry for the damage done to the garden also, and for expense that I'm sure you incurred also. Taking down trees is very expensive where I live.

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  8. We have an emotional attachment to our trees. As well, trees do a tremendous amount of good to the environment. It's too bad they made such a mess.

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  9. As a West Coast (Canadian) tree hugger, I feel your loss. We had a tree die one summer ago and have replaced it, but it will take some years before it reaches the other's stature.

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  10. As a person from the American midwest, where farmland "ruled," I remember how amazed I was at the vast forests of Germany, and we were struck once again by the vast forests of Finland, though we only skirted the edges. (I seem to recall Sibelius referring to himself at one point as a creature of the forest.) Where we live now is really the first place where there is substantial forest, including quite a stand of trees in our own yard. I've become used to trees in the forest falling of their own accord as part of the "natural order," but having to make the decision to take down a tree is quite another matter (not to mention costly and a big mess). We think it's likely our dogwood, which has given us such pleasure over the years, may be nearing the end of its life, and that we will really hate to see go.

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  11. Dear Friko, you won't be surprised to read that Alexandra's "Mein Freund der Baum ist tot" came to my mind. It seems the fitting sound track to this sad event.

    When I first moved to my flat 13 years ago, a huge fir grew between my house and the next. My bathroom, which has only a small window to begin with, was in constant gloom because of it. I think all of us in this house were happy when we had more light after the fir was cut down by the neighbours, but it was still sad to know that there was now one tree less in this town.

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  12. I love old trees as well, Friko. And always think how old it is,seeing big branches and thick trunk. But they could damage falling down, as my garden apple tree that was cut this autumn because of having a big deep hollow near ground. I'm sorry of your horse chestnut.

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  13. I can never understand why "tree-hugger" is used as an insult ... a bit like jeering at someone for being an "air-breather" , surely ?
    You'll plant another tree to replace it , of course , but still miss the beauty of this one . Having to oversee the removal must have been painful .

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  14. Hi Friko - the damage is pretty blanket covering isn't it ... and I can only imagine the worst as you came to terms with how and where the beloved tree fell ... I love horse-chestnuts ... they are a delight - but sadly the diseases seem to be becoming ever more rampant. Your garden is so special to you ... and doesn't need to be disturbed just now - still all will be returned to the soil and new life will sprout just as soon ... after a good rest.

    Wonderful story and the Roman defeat ... fascinating to read about - the locals know their land ... cheers Hilary

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  15. Oh, Friko, I mourn this loss for I, too, am a tree hugger and weep for the passing of these revered giants. I hope the gardens revive in good time.
    When the lot next to us, about 2 acres, was clear cut a few years ago, we were depressed for days. Now, the wind comes whipping through, we hear the expressway nearby, and there is often standing water for there are not roots to soak up the moisture - and, they decided not to build.

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  16. I know that pain all too well. I believe trees are sentient (as is all life no matter how small or different from us). Living in my city neighborhood while gentrification was going on was heartbreaking. so many beautiful healthy mature trees were dismembered and cut down. there was a spate of time when it seemed everyday you could hear the chainsaws giving sound to the silent screaming of the trees.

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  17. Thank you for the history. As always I enjoy your writing. I wonder how old the tree was - I had a 100 year old tall black cherry tree in my backyard that fell during a storm. I had been a bit worried as it would sway and creak as my children played beneath it. And like you, a huge opening into the farmers field that was hard to get used to. The photos are devastating of a once grand tree.

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  18. Whenever I've been away from the computer for long periods (which seems to be happening with greater frequency since I'm gone a good bit of the week), yours is one of the first blogs I visit upon my return. You write with such grace and ease, and such delicious detail. I've enjoyed catching up on your doings, am glad that both you and Beloved are feeling better, and grateful that you're a tree hugging liberal. The world needs much more of you!

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  19. how well i understand. in the house i've just moved from, after 11 years, an arborist wired the mid branches of our giant maple whose crown was sick but told us that might buy 5, 10 years. the woodpeckers already knew.

    at least we have reverence! no shortage of that, and in these crazy sad days, it's both a hard and soft blessing.

    love to you, friko
    kj



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  20. I also mourn the passing of trees. Have been a tree hugger since I was a child. Sad to see the giant taken down. And those tree removal guys--really need to learn to be more respectful of people's property!

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  21. Reminds me of the Joyce Kilmer poem we learned in school: I think that I shall never see/a poem lovely as a tree. Now get this: There;s a rest stop on the New Jersey Turnpike named after Joyce Kilmer.

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  22. I remember learning the battle of Teutoburger Wald was one of the '100 major battles' for it prevented Roman/Latin takeover of what is now Germany, allowing it and the language to develop separately from Romance language and culture.

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  23. It always grieves me to see an ailing tree.

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  24. I know how you feel. Our neighbour's decided to fell five beautiful trees. There was nothing we could do or say to change their minds. Sadly, not everyone feels the same about trees :(

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  25. I'm so sorry about your tree. I always feel terrible when a tree comes down and to have it be one so beautiful and that you have loved for so long is extra sad. The garden damage adds to it. Perhaps after the winter the garden parts will revive.

    I didn't realize the "cult of trees" that the German people have. Good for then. Good for you. Too many people find it easy to cut down trees for little reason at all. I appreciate that feeling of preservation.

    I am so very, very sorry. The loss of your tree must be sad indeed.

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  26. I even mourn the loss of trees NOT on our property but various ones I've enjoyed seeing (and photographing) over the years.

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