Safeguarding the asset

Over the years and numerous previous owners the nature lived at it own course. Saplings that once sprung up and were not removed grew into large trees. Unfortunately in our case too close to buildings. The old house (original dwelling) had a large birch growing just inches from the wall. The canopy rubbed and dislodged the roof tiles damaging the forgotten and weathered house even further. By the north corner there was a large conifer, spruce most likely that had grown again only a meter away from the house and only one sided, possibly some damage to trunk in early days. Old juniper was rubbing another corner of the house. Rear of the building was covered in cherry thicket that had spread in it own accord. This stopped air movement and kept the leaning wall constantly damp. (more on leaning walls and old house in another post).

In front of the barn there was once impressive oak however possibly as part of previous owner's building works the trunk was severely damaged. The tree was leaning towards the house and again was only one sided and out of balance. Leaves dropping every autumn and gathering on roof had caused porch to become moss covered.

In preparation to coming autumn decision was made to call out a tree surgeon who took down 3 dangerous trees and a juniper.

The oak had possibly been there longest and we decided to mill the blanks into boards that can be used in future renovations of the house. The Juniper trunk was saved again for a future project. Spruce and birch ended up as firewood.

Later conversation with neighbour revealed the damage to spruce had been caused by resident bears who used it as their scratching and territory marking post. I wonder what they will do now?

We could now go into autumn storms with knowledge that we have done what was needed to avoid damage from falling trees.