Regarding the recently collapsed ancient oak tree at Wyesham, I am dismayed that the headline in the Beacon read 'End of an era' for the tree.
Ancient oaks often collapse when they have internal rot or weaknesses within their structure and very often they regenerate and survive for another couple of hundred years or so.
The oak tree at Wyesham shows a very good amount of sound and active sapwood which should start to show signs of new growth in the spring.
With correct management the tree should continue to survive and thrive and will probably be living long after we are gone.
The tree already has internal cubicle rot and will probably hollow out during the future but this doesn't mean the tree is any less of a tree, it is still a very important ancient oak.
Many ancient oaks which have been pollarded historically (as the Wyesham oak was) can, and do, survive with hollow trunks, they just need appropriate management as do all trees.
Traditionally people pollarded trees for firewood, livestock food and fencing posts as well as fuel for iron smelting.
These pollards were cut above the height of browsing animals such as deer and cattle and attracted many forms of wildlife which adapted to the pollard trees and hollow trunks.
Bats, owls, voles, invertebrate, weasels and stoats to name just a few, all use hollow pollarded trees for habitats.
As I see it, the oak tree at Wyesham has just started another phase of its life, which hopefully will last a very long time.
I am sure with good management the tree will continue to thrive and provide amenity and wildlife value for many years.
Steve Wadley
(Monmouth Tree Services)