When Lightning Strikes..

When we visited Loches the other day we went for a walk in the park, which we've always admired. The flower beds contain the most beautiful assortment of plants in first class condition and the whole park is well laid out and obviously tended with care.

One thing struck us (pardon the pun - you'll see!):

When we last visited the park, in May 2010, it was a very different picture..

A plaque next to what remains of this tree explained that it was one of three sequoias planted to mark the opening of the new park in Loches in 1909. One died of  old age. A second became diseased and had to be cut down leaving just this one, which grew to 45metres tall.

Then at 5:40 pm on the evening of Sunday, April 24th 2011, this majestic sequoia was struck by lightning. It exploded causing a great deal of damage. At first it was thought it may be possible to preserve the tree which had split into three sections but it soon became obvious that it was too dangerous. So sadly the top sections of the tree were cut down but the bottom section was left as a reminder of a tree which had looked down on the park for a hundred years.

A graphic illustration of the damage lightning can do too, we'd say!