Even though I went to the park as a child every sunny summer Sunday, we never visited the tree. Not until 1990 did I follow the new signposts and find it. Its dead carcass was held up by a huge metal stanchion. But I was amazed and flummoxed to see that it wasn't anchored to the ground - the bolts to secure it and make it effective just weren't there!
A couple of months later, there was a storm almost as strong as the 1987 hurricane. Obviously the so-called support, under these circumstances, was more of a liability than a help, because this is how the dead ancient oak now looks.
At least the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest is still standing. Propped up by large wooden staves, and you can no longer go inside it's hollow trunk like you could when I was a kid, but it's still there and upright!
ReplyDeleteThere's really a Sherwood Forest?
ReplyDeleteYes, JoJo, in Nottinghamshire. As is Sheriff of Nottingham (there really was one, and a Prince John who later became King, and a Richard the Lionheart. Only Robin and his band are fictitious).
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Diane, in fairness, the Elizabeth Oak has been dead for hundreds of years, but I still don't think that's any excuse to the authorities for failing to keep it upright.
ReplyDelete