I think many people would know the big old beech tree which stands about half-way along the long narrow wood which extends southwards from Allestree Park's main car park to the Lake. I have referred to it as 'King of the Woods' when taking people on guided walks, as this venerable tree, at about 60 feet tall, towered over the much younger trees of the wood. Like many large trees in Allestree Park, it was most probably planted as a landscape feature during the laying out of the park in the late 18th century. For many years it would have been on its own in an open grassy landscape before the present woodland grew up.
It has been obvious for some time that the tree was in trouble. I remember that twenty years ago a huge gaping hole on its eastern side had been plugged by a brick wall! This is the only tree I know that has had this treatment, probably carried out many years before. If anyone has any knowledge of who did the walling or when it was done, I would be interested to know. Other signs of the tree's impending end were the huge and spectacular brackets of the fungus Ganoderma applanatum, adorning various parts of its trunk. This is a pathogenic fungus, meaning that it causes the death of trees! The fungus has taken its time but, alas, its task is at last done!
In January 2007 a huge limb on the western side of the tree was broken off in a severe gale, effectively leaving only half of the tree standing. Unprecedented gales in June of this year finished the job, when the corresponding main limb on the eastern side crashed to the ground, leaving a shattered stump as a reminder of a fine and well-loved tree.
This isn't the only ancient beech in the park to go in recent years. There have been at least two in Big Wood on the western side of the park and in 2006, another near the Evergreen Hall entrance, was felled by a tornado! Climate change appears to be bringing with it more frequent storms, so I think we can expect more old giants in our park to disappear in the near future.
The beech, subject of the article, in January 2005: All limbs intact, but brackets of Ganoderma applanatum clearly visible (close- up above)
The beech in March, 2007 on left and in July, 2008, on right
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