Gnarly

It's said of the majestic oak, that they take 300 years growing, 300 years being, and 300 years declining. In that last trimester some appear to have shrunken like shrinky dinks, developing intricate patterns and textures which draw the eye. 

Burley Old old timer

Enjoying the autumn sun one of Burley Old's many old timer trees. Gnarly and stripped of bark this wizened veteran oak still retains his place and presence amongst the stands.

Tiny choppers

We've got this lovely Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) in the garden, it used to be in my parents front garden, it was all oranges and reds, then one day the sawed it down and I saved it. Luckily it survived (it's been moved again since too) and when it grew back it grew back plain green, although come autumn it puts on a beautiful rainbow show of colours, it's quite a transformation. I don't remember it having as many 'helicopters' on it as it has this year, they're copious, it's a lovely sight, they're pretty little things.

Field Maple

I've long thought the Field Maple (Acer campestre) is an overlooked hedgerow legend, it's an unassuming tree that just blends in, and maybe that's why it's not recognised...though in autumn it's yellowy hued leaves stand out spectacularly, particularly out in the forest. The I discovered something that may explain why it's overlooked...it's categorised on OPALS (Ogren Plant Allergy Scale) as a 7, which is quite a high rating, ''high potential to cause allergic reactions''. Who knew? Not me, I was really quite surprised. Lovely looking tree though.

Splendid isolation

I saw a solitary wizened tree standing in a sea of fecundity. A visual metaphor for contemporary Britain I thought, once standing proud, now hubristic in our decay as we return to our 19th century policy of splendid isolation. We will reap what we sow, and a thin harvest it'll be.