Casualty of the storm

Our beautiful gum tree, which we planted 15 years ago, fell over in the storm. Amazingly, the wall on which it fell didn't collapse. When we moved here our garden was very plain. The only tree was a dying apple. In Australia gum trees used to be called widow makers becsue the branches would fall off. Here, where they have plenty of water, the wood is less brittle but the root systems are shallow and they just topple over. Trees make such a difference to an area, adding beauty and variety and a home for birds so we were anxious to get as many trees in our garden as possible. We planted an oak, 2 maples, a silver birch, which died a few years ago, a pine, and a tree of heaven. Birds have generously given us a sycamore, hollyoake, and 3 yews which we are nurturing. But the majestic gum tree was the Queen of our small forest and we miss it. We have a lot of chopping and sawing to do and then the fun of replanting and designing. Much of the wood we will leave for frogs and insects.