Frithsden Beech

[David Humphries]

Sadly got the news yesterday that this fine ancient beech pollard at the Ashridge estate is no more.

 

.

[David Humphries]

Nick took a visit over to the site on Wednesday and found that it had entirely collapsed.

 

 

.

[David Humphries]

Meripilus all over the root plate but the failure is down to the white rot of Ganoderma (possibly applanatum/lipsiense) & although not seen, I would also suspect Kretzscmaria deusta being present.

 

.

[Nick Harrison]

according to a passing dog walker the tree came down last Thursday, it certainly all looked very fresh still with no signs (that I saw) of any of the timber being removed. Noticed quite a few failed beech pollards in the area, some looking fairly recent. tis a real shame

[David Humphries]

couple of Nick's decay shots......

 

.

[sean]

Great tree and a real shame but left in situ it can go back to whence it came.

[David Humphries]

I think it's a shame that it wasn't reduced, propped & fenced off Sean.

 

Iconic tree that had a focus on it, but seemingly nothing really done to manage it.

 

 

 

.

[armybloke]

You going to take a piece of history home David and make a beer mat with an off-cut or something?

[David Humphries]

I've not been to see the tree since the failure marco.

 

 

 

.

[David Humphries]

Chair of the ATF (Brian Muelaner) talking about the notable beeches of Frithsden

 

 

The beech pollard can be seen from 3:25 onwards

 

 

 

.