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Throwing in the towel
Nov. 23rd, 2009 03:11 pmWhen I moved to this house, I inherited a neglected agricultural hedge along one side of the garden. There was a chance that, with a little tlc, it could be restored to a thing of beauty... or so I thought.
Some seven years on, I have admitted defeat: it is only a row of rotting alder, blackthorn and hawthorn trunks held together by rampant ivy. Take the ivy away and the trunks will collapse. Leave the ivy in place and its weight will eventually have the same result.
So today I have agreed to have the work done early in January to dig up the old hedge (all but the sycamore tree, which is sound and can be controlled by reducing its height every two or three years) and replace it with new planting of field maple and hornbeam and viburnum opulus and hazel and maybe beech and holly and dogrose. It will be a joy to me and the birds all year round, and properly cared for will outlive me, which is a very satisfying thing to know.
Some seven years on, I have admitted defeat: it is only a row of rotting alder, blackthorn and hawthorn trunks held together by rampant ivy. Take the ivy away and the trunks will collapse. Leave the ivy in place and its weight will eventually have the same result.
So today I have agreed to have the work done early in January to dig up the old hedge (all but the sycamore tree, which is sound and can be controlled by reducing its height every two or three years) and replace it with new planting of field maple and hornbeam and viburnum opulus and hazel and maybe beech and holly and dogrose. It will be a joy to me and the birds all year round, and properly cared for will outlive me, which is a very satisfying thing to know.
