It is relentless. Another scorching day arrives. I dare not count the sapling tress I have lost on the land until the heat subsides. It is the first of August. The blackberry, a month early from when I recall in my childhood, while fruiting is struggling, some burnt before fruition. A walnut is burnt all the way down from the top to bottom, it’s stem no longer bends. The 80 vines which I counted after the first heat wave and was delighted to find over 50% survived. Now, after the 5th heatwave about 10% survive.
(Even my own body revolted. After a game of tennis in the early morning, I had to leave in haste the gang having coffee, and did not make it back to the van, vomiting in the Halesworth public car park. Kobo, with me and on a lead, licked my face, in an amazing dog empathy)
Early on this summer, I began grieving for the oaks. I noticed all the oaks along the Beccles Road were suffering, retrenching, their limbs thin at the branch ends. Too much light was getting through, no longer that cathedral avenue of dark green. Not only the oaks along Kaliwood goundary, but even more the oaks on the other side, of Holton Hall Park. I could see some tell tale signs of bleeding. Acute Oak Decline. Talks given at Helmingham and Ickworth confirmed others were finding the same and I was comforted to know I was not alone. Wherever I drove from then on I noticed: Henham, Benacre, Blythburgh. I began taking photographs. Then I began drawing the oaks along Kaliwood boundary. I am on Oak 5 of 14 – I am slow.
Back on the land, I know should have mulched the hedge. When I replace I must do that. Hawthorn are usually the most likely to survive, but these are burnt in the southern hedge. However there was one patch of 5 meters of green hedge. Ah, I saw, it was protected by the great shadow of the oak of Holton Pits that clings to the edge. What generosity of shadow.
The hornbeam hedge that unexpectedly took to being planted on sand 3 years ago, is well enough, some 3-6 struggle, but the most got away. As did the western hedge, happy and established.
I noticed that the oak that, with some unusual generosity (paying for half a days work) I had had cut right back as it was showing definite signs of retrenching, has blossomed in it’s new reduced form. How interesting. And unlike one on the other side, that struggles on its lanky end branches.
The oak which last year was retrenched, has done well, and shows healthy growth from all pollarded branches, Unlike the one opposite which struggles at it’s far reaches.
