[RUSTYME]

The oak at Pontfadog blew over in high winds last night .
The tree was over 1200 years old .
They are saying that it started life in 802 and was one of the oldest trees in the uk .

[plumseverywhere]

That is actually really sad    puts into perspective my whinging that the wind blew a gate in and the goats all got out.  Such a shame to see something so historical go with the wind

[in the hills]

Arrrrr.   


Hope they plant another in its place.

[happygolucky]

So sad, I always thought that trees had sort of soles and when we watched the Lord of the Rings with them walking I made up my mind that they did, I love trees and was upset to see so many down in our local forest but one so old must be even more sad, I suppose it had to go one day!!

[RUSTYME]

Yes very sad indeed .
I feel trees are a direct link with the past and can  imagine all the things that happened within the trees locallity over the years .

[Bionic]

Yes, I heard it on the news too, very sad.  If it could talk imagine all the things it must have seen.

[Fleecewife]

Oaks will sometimes regenerate from the roots or the trunk when they have blown over - I hope they don't chop it up     If it's still got some roots in the ground it has a chance.  I love trees, especially ancient ones.

[funkyfish]

A huge oak in a park near us blew over a few years ago. It was a beautiful Luscome (?spelling) oak, very old. They chopped it in to big,safe pieces and lots of people sit on it and have picnics etc so its still enjoyed.

So sad, I love trees.

[spandit]

They're talking about replanting it again

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-22202815

Sad, but are trees expected to be immortal?

[doganjo]

No, they're not expected to be immortal but they do live a helluva lot longer than anything else in the world.   I notice they are talking about the possibility of re-erecting the tree. Presumably by removing the top branches, reinstating into it's position and hoping the roots regrow?

[john and helen]

We had a Oak tree in France and it was hit by lightning, the split must have
 gone half way down the trunk.

that tree still produced the green leaves in summer,

there is just something magical about trees , when you see how old they are and what has passed by throughout their life

[Fleecewife]

I do hope they pollard it and re-erect the trunk - it would be worth a try.  I hadn't realised that the whole thing, roots and all had come up.    I wonder if you can grow oak from cuttings too - it wouldn't be the same as having that magnificent tree, but it would be 'son of..'  Or maybe some little oaklings will germinate in the disturbed soil 

[Lesley Silvester]

So sad.  It reminds me of the hurricane in the late 80s when six of the seven oak trees that the town of Sevenoaks was named for, were blown down.  People joked about it but I was upset.

[Beeducked]

Its amazing the aura really old trees have.


Near here there is a tiny little church planted in a ring of old yew trees. They are so old and huge that the heart wood has rotted away and they are a ring round the edge. The trees have been aged at over 2000 years old. Older than Christ. I'm not Christian but the spirituality of the place is awesome. It has clearly been a place of worship for an incredibly long time. I love the place.

[Fleecewife]

Is that Fortingall, Beeducked?  That is a most amazing yew tree and has its own magic