The Disappearing Coppers at St Nicholas Church Hall

NOW YOU SEE IT...

NOW YOU DON'T. (AND WHO'S NICKED THE SAPLING?!)

Not long ago two copper beech trees graced the skyline looking north from Walnut Tree Close in Chislehurst.

But no more.

The first one to go was a few years ago when Bromley Council's Tree Officer agreed with a Walnut Tree Close resident that with a large number of branches falling from the tree into their back garden, this could be symptomatic of a dying tree - although, at first sight, it looked quite healthy. The resident was concerned that the tree was so tall that should it fall into their garden, their bungalow would be demolished. The Tree Officer inspected the base of the tree and found some fungus. A few days later the chain saws were out and a small crowd gathered to squirrel away the wood for the large number of wood burning stoves that there are in the vicinity. The other copper beech was looked at and it was pronounced in "good health". 

However, last week it breathed its last and over it went. Without warning this huge tree crashed into the garden of another Walnut Tree Close resident, reaching the guttering of their property but fortuitously no further.

Beech are very susceptible to wind and drought (as well as fungal attack), and we've certainly had both over the last few years. Given that very little root has come up out of the ground suggests that all three susceptibilities have had their part to play.

The skyline in this part of Chislehurst has now changed considerably and for anyone looking for logs for next winter, here at Chislehurst Village News we certainly know where to go!
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