• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Chandler's Ford Today

  • Home
  • About
    • About Chandler’s Ford
    • Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research
  • Blog
    • Blogging Tips
  • Event
    • Upcoming Events
  • Community
    • Groups
    • Churches
    • Schools
    • GP Surgeries
    • Leisure
    • Library
    • Charities
      • Eastleigh Basics Bank
      • Cat & Kitten Rescue in Chandler’s Ford
    • Fair Trade
      • Traidcraft stalls in Chandler’s Ford
    • Chandler’s Ford Parish Council
  • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Site Policies
  • Site Archive
    • Site Archive 2018
    • Site Archive 2017
    • Site Archive 2016
    • Site Archive 2015
You are here: Home / Community / Another One Bites The Dust – Rotten To The Core

Another One Bites The Dust – Rotten To The Core

October 21, 2014 By Mike Sedgwick 4 Comments

Today saw the first serious gales of the winter. All summer and probably for many years, trees have been rotting away inside their trunks.

Fungi feast on the lignin and cellulose material that gives wood its strength until the outer, living, wood is no longer strong enough to stand the stresses of bending.

The force of the wind on leaves and branches of a fully mature oak tree must be considerable. Think of how the wind on a few sails will drive a sailing ship of many tons through the water. Tree branches with leaves offer thousands of surfaces for the wind to act upon. The force is proportional to the square of the wind speed. That is, if the wind speed doubles, the force goes up 4 times. If it triples, the force increases 9 times.

Tree surgery is less subtle than human surgery.
Tree surgery is less subtle than human surgery.

Hiltingury: My neighour’s narrow escape

Today many trees must have fallen, some doing damage and even taking life. Our neighbour in Hiltingbury had a narrow escape when an oak tree in her garden was blown over directly towards the house. Anyone would have thought that it would have burst through the roof into the living room smashing walls, windows and tiles as it fell.

In the event it was just not quite tall enough. The top-most branches just reached the guttering on the roof and brought down a few shards of plastic. You can see on the picture that there is no guttering beneath the roof tiles.

Lakewood Tree Surgeons led by Paul were quickly on site to clear up the mess with their buzz saws and chipping machine. I considered asking them to leave any unwanted logs in my drive for the fire. However, due to previous storms and felling dead and diseased trees, the woodshed is full and there are piles of logs at the bottom of the garden.

Phew - Just missed the house
Phew – Just missed the house

The tree had a split at a branch point and for years rainwater had been able to penetrate. This allowed the rotting organisms to enter and live quietly and unseen while they destroyed the strength of the tree. Inside was a dark brown powdery substance instead of hard wood.

Trees are such magnificent structures that it is always sad to see one fall or be felled. There is then the opportunity to plant or allow a new one to grow in its place. For those with financial interests, plant a walnut. One square meter of walnut veneer currently costs over £100. Your pocket will not be lined but your grandchildren may benefit.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email

Related posts:

Roger Clark from Chandler's Ford.Is Chandler’s Ford A Jaguar? Meet Roger Clark. Hocombe Mead Walk Chandler's Ford Fryern Arcade new post office.Where Is The Centre Of Chandler’s Ford? The Arch - CPYT in Chandler's FordThriving Amateur Dramatics In Chandler’s Ford Second Ramalley Scout Hut, Chandler's Ford.New Ramalley Hall Lego Brick Cufflink Fundraiser
Tags: Chandler's Ford, community, Hiltingbury, local interest, nature

About Mike Sedgwick

Retired, almost. Lived in Chandler's Ford for 20 years. Like sitting in the garden with a beer on sunny days. Also reading, writing and flying a glider. Interested in promoting science.

I work hard as a Grandfather and have a part time job in Kandy, Sri Lanka for the winter months. Married to a beautiful woman and between us we have two beautiful daughters and 3 handsome sons.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Janet Williams says

    October 22, 2014 at 12:31 am

    Near where you live, the 180-year-old oak tree in Hocombe Mead was blown down in 2012. The trunk of the oak tree was later turned into a great piece of work, by wood sculptor Paul Sivell from the Isle of Wight.

    oak tree Hocombe Mead

    See details about the oak tree in these posts: Hocombe Mead Guided Walk and Chandler’s Ford Hocombe Mead Vandalism.

    Did the tree surgeons use the felled tree for anything? Matthew Swan used them for reindeer.

    Reply
  2. Mike Sedgwick says

    November 5, 2014 at 1:58 pm

    The branches were chipped. The trunk was sawed across and left as garden decoration e.g. seats, stands for plants or could be split for a log fire.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Chandler's Ford Today October 2014 Round-up - Chandler's Ford Today says:
    November 4, 2014 at 9:12 pm

    […] good time to subscribe to the blog of Chandler’s Ford Today, to keep yourself up-to-date with stories, debates, and events in Chandler’s […]

    Reply
  2. Chandler’s Ford Today November 2014 Round-up - Chandler's Ford Today says:
    December 6, 2014 at 6:45 am

    […] good time to subscribe to the blog of Chandler’s Ford Today, to keep yourself up-to-date with stories, debates, and events in Chandler’s […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to Chandler's Ford Today blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Archives

Top Posts & Pages

999, 111, 101, 112? Emergency Numbers You Must Know
101 Things to Put into Room 101
101 Things to Put into Room 101 - Part 7 - The Final Leg
Home
Photography on the Isle of Wight
Cat & Kitten Rescue in Chandler's Ford
Charles Baynham in Chandler's Ford
Peculiar British House Numbering System
Upcoming Events
My Passion For Woodwork

Categories

Tags

arts and crafts books Chandler's Ford Chandler's Ford Today Chandler’s Ford community charity Christianity Christmas church community creative writing culture Eastleigh Eastleigh Borough Council education entertainment event family fundraising gardening gardening tips good neighbours Hiltingbury Hiltingbury Road history hobby how-to interview Joan Adamson Joan Adelaide Goater local businesses local interest memory Methodist Church music nature news reading review social storytelling theatre travel Winchester Road writing

Recent Comments

  • John Roberts on Gladly, the Cross-eyed Bear and Other Mondegreens
  • Allison Symes on Zest In Fiction
  • Mike Sedgwick on Zest In Fiction
  • Allison Symes on Zest In Fiction
  • Lynn Clement on Zest In Fiction
  • Bram van Reemst on Peculiar British House Numbering System

Regular Writers and Contributors

Janet Williams Allison Symes Mike Sedgwick Rick Goater Doug Clews chippy minton Martin Napier Roger White Andy Vining Gopi Chandroth Nicola Slade Wellie Roger Clark Ray Fishman Hazel Bateman SO53 News

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

Reviews of local performances and places

Reviews of local performances and places

Copyright © 2022 Chandler's Ford Today. WordPress. Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.