Re pollarding the willow...

The willow tree nearest the house was first pollarded in March 2012 by M. Bourreau, our wood supplier. We are  this year burning the logs it produced,

It is incredible how much growth it has put on in three years... This was taken in September 2014

Last week it was time for the chainsaw on a stick and the big chainsaw!!!

A few logs, if it ever dries up enough to cut them up!!

So now it's back to as it was in March 2012,,,

I look forward to doing it again in three years time,,,

Enough to make you Weep

We have written before about our rather large willow trees and this time last year we blogged about one being pollarded (see here). This photo, taken on 3rd May 2012 shows the newly pollarded willow in the foreground, already showing signs of growth,  and two other very large weeping ones across the lawn..

After lunch today Colin decided to tackle a branch on one of these others. The branch in question had split and as well as being prone to disease there was the risk it could crack completely and fall.

With ladder secured and chain saw in hand he began to saw... You can possibly make out the falling branch on this photo..

 Another small piece off to neaten the cut...

Once felled you could see where water had built up in the crack. It was dripping out as Colin sawed..

Job done (I thought!) so we tidied up and Colin went off with a wheelbarrow full of logs - fuel for a couple of winters hence!

However, the next willow beckoned...

One branch led to another and before we knew it we were neck deep in branches again!

By late afternoon we were ready to call it a day. We'd collected a healthy stash of logs ready to pile up and dry out for fuel and there are still many more to be added..

This is the scene we left at the end of work today...

It can wait till tomorrow!!