A huge mess was made as the tree was hacked to the ground I hate seeing trees being cut down. I have seen the devastation caused in parts of Africa when whole forests are destroyed, leaving animals and birds homeless and contributing to severe soil erosion. I refuse to support the charcoal industry in Tanzania , because burning trees for charcoal/firewood (and not replanting the trees) is a real problem in most parts of Africa, and I don’t want to encourage it at all. We are in the process of planting new trees on the farm at the moment – seedlings – but it is a real mission trying to stop illegal grazing on the farm and the goats especially seem to like eating the fresh young saplings !
My parent’s have had a Chorisia Speciosa (Floss Silk Tree) in the corner of their garden since they bought their house 14 years ago. It has always been a talking point due to it’s unusual thorny, almost wart like trunk. It belongs to the same family as the Baobab tree, and is native to South America. It’s seedpods contain a silky substance which can be used for stuffing cushions, hence it’s common name “Floss Silk Tree”. (Can I just add here, that not once did I ever collect the silk to stuff cushions with. Life's just too short).
It has towered over the garden and been privy to many parties, conversations, celebrations, arguments and secrets over the years ! It has cast it’s shade over the lawn as my sister and I brought boyfriends home, got engaged, came back with our husbands and eventually with children of our own, who crawled – and then walked – in it’s shade. It has stood, silently, all these years. But today, it is gone.
Due to a problem with it’s roots – and a neighbouring boundary wall cracking – it has had to be removed, and today was the day that the tree fellers came to hack it down. I remarked to my Mum that it was ironic that out of all the time it had to happen, it had to be when I was visiting. Because I find it so sad, not least of all because I wonder where the birds who nested in it’s shady branches will now live, but because a familiar part of my life that has been here each time I've visited my parent's for the past 14 years - is now gone for good.
My parent’s have had a Chorisia Speciosa (Floss Silk Tree) in the corner of their garden since they bought their house 14 years ago. It has always been a talking point due to it’s unusual thorny, almost wart like trunk. It belongs to the same family as the Baobab tree, and is native to South America. It’s seedpods contain a silky substance which can be used for stuffing cushions, hence it’s common name “Floss Silk Tree”. (Can I just add here, that not once did I ever collect the silk to stuff cushions with. Life's just too short).
It has towered over the garden and been privy to many parties, conversations, celebrations, arguments and secrets over the years ! It has cast it’s shade over the lawn as my sister and I brought boyfriends home, got engaged, came back with our husbands and eventually with children of our own, who crawled – and then walked – in it’s shade. It has stood, silently, all these years. But today, it is gone.
Due to a problem with it’s roots – and a neighbouring boundary wall cracking – it has had to be removed, and today was the day that the tree fellers came to hack it down. I remarked to my Mum that it was ironic that out of all the time it had to happen, it had to be when I was visiting. Because I find it so sad, not least of all because I wonder where the birds who nested in it’s shady branches will now live, but because a familiar part of my life that has been here each time I've visited my parent's for the past 14 years - is now gone for good.
