I have often featured cattle and other animals basking beneath Bramshaw’s ancient oak. These pictures were produced in November 2018.
This morning the unburied corpse of this once mighty giant, some of its limbs chopped up, lay across the green, being investigated by a solitary calf which is hidden in three of these images. The muddy turf was littered with acorns. The shattered trunk of the tree was completely hollow. A telegraph pole had been pulled down with it. The weight of a few hundred years and the winds of storm Alex had been too much for this venerable Quercus.
We had noticed this disaster on our way to Nomansland in the gloom of yesterday evening and felt impelled to pay our last respects early this morning.
On this village’s other green ponies cast their shadows, donkeys dawdled,
and sheep sheltered under healthier oaks.
Along the road to Furzley Common others rose to their feet in trepidation as I approached.
At the Furzey Lane crossroads I witnessed a close encounter between a somewhat sheepish pony and a snuffling piglet.
Soon the little porker trotted across the road to join its squealing siblings swinging round the corner in the wake of a soggy, grunting, sow.
While I poked my lens at pigs, Jackie aimed at alpacas occupying a distant shed.
Donkeys and a foal soaked up the sun in Blackhill Road.
Our return home was greeted by rainclouds and a showery afternoon.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s spicy lamb jalfrezi, a plain paratha, and turmeric tinted boiled rice with which she drank Hoegaarden and I drank Cahors Malbec 2018.
It’s a bit sad that the old Oak has fallen, and was hollow inside. The pigs are kind of cute. Stay dry, Derrick! 🇬🇧
Thanks very much, John
What a shame about the tree. Storm Alex has wreaked havoc over here particularly in the Niçois hinterland.
One way and another France is really going through it at the moment. Thanks very much, Sheree.
Indeed!
The assortment of animals helped cheer me up after the loss of that grand oak!
I’m pleased, GP. Thanks very much.
“How the might have fallen” obviously springs to mind (couldn’t stop myself!). The little piggy is trying to warn ponies that acorns should not be part of equine diet, I think.
I think you are right about the conversation, Dolly. Many thanks.
You are very welcome, Derrick.
time for pannage I suppose? Grand to see the live stock just wandering around. Shame about the oak but it had a good life by the looks of it.
Thanks a lot, Geoff. Yes pannage has begun
I find it sad to see a mature tree uprooted – rather let this be by the elements of nature though than by courtesy of a chainsaw!
Quite so, Anne. Thank you very much.
That must have been quite a storm to uproot the old oak tree! How sad!
There are quite a number of trees down. I concentrated on that one because we knew it well. Thanks very much, Janet.
How lovely to see the Pigs out again, is it really a whole year?
Time goes so fast these days. 🙂 Thanks very much, Sue
As others have said, lovely to see the pigs 😊
Thanks very much, Helen
It always seems a shame when a fine old tree succumbs to an end of life event. From SueW’s comment it sounds like the hogs are only out part of the year?
Yes – 6 weeks or so in autumn: https://derrickjknight.com/2016/09/29/a-clip-round-the-ear/ Thanks very much, Maj
It’s always sad to see a tree like that go. Nice firewood for someone I hope. That picture of horse and pig communing is so sweet. I remember on my grandparent’s farm our pony, Dusty, was great pals with a cow. They were inseparable in the pasture and when we went to get Dusty to ride, she always followed us in.
The animal friendship is fascinating, Lisa. In the forest the tree would be left for the ecology. I’m not sure what will happen on the green. Thanks very much.
I hope the tree provides more than firewood. I still have two ancient furniture pieces made from English oak. One is a scuttle complete with coal.
I imagine some of those logs will be sold to carvers. Your coal scuttle sounds great. Thanks very much, Gwen
What a variety of livestock you encounter on your outings, and how well you record these encounters.
Thank you very much, Tootlepedal.
It’s sad about that oak. So many wonderful animal portraits–I can’t pick a favorite.
I’m pleased to be able to stump you for a favourite, Merril. Thank you very much.
Nice to see so many animals. It is a pity to see the oak go. The roots would make a fine stumpery for someone with space.
They would indeed. In the forest, as you know, this would be left to rejoin the soil. I wonder what will happen on this village green. Thanks very much, Susan
I particularly like “Sheep under trees,” very pastoral.
Thank you very much, Liz.
You’re welcome, Derrick.
As I was waiting for the first couple of photos to appear (they were slow this morning) I had this feeling that something disastrous happened. How sad.
I love old trees and I often photograph the same tree over and over if only through a year of seasons.
As usual, the wait for the all the photos in your post to appear was well worth the wait.
Oh, I love turmeric tinted boiled rice. 🙂
Thank you very much, Chrissy. I’m sorry the pictures were so slow.
Not your fault. It happens from time to time with WordPress sites.
Aw. 🙁 Always sad when a tree can no longer grow. Hopefully it will still be useful as firewood or in some other helpful way.
Your title made me snort-laugh! 🙂 (Ooh, I might have some porcine in me! 🐷 )
Porcine! Bovine! Equine! Ovine! Alpacaine! Such sweet animals! Those faces! 🙂
Love the pony and pig encounter photo. Thinking of what they might be conversing about…hmm…
🐷: “Hay! You lost our bet so quit foaling around and pony up!”
🐴: “Hay, yourself! Stop swine-ing and wallowing! I’ll pay you on Friday after I get paid!”
HUGS!!! 🙂
PS…your rice sounds beautiful and yummy!
Thanks very much, Carolyn 🙂 🙂 🙂 X
Oh my…so many fantastic photos today! There are many that would make great jigsaw puzzles. I love the resting sheep! Thank you for sharing, Derrick.
And thank you for your regular visits, Jill
Quite the menagerie of animals there! A nice reminder that nature goes on despite the loss of a grand old oak 💛
Indeed, Val. Thanks very much.
Looks idyllic Derrick!
It is, Cindy. Thanks very much.
Your world is teeming with life. Thank you for honoring the mighty giant.
And thank you, too, JoAnna. I wondered what you would think
I think any form of respectful honoring is appreciated on some level.
It is sad to see a venerable giant of a tree come down. I agree with JoAnna, thank you for honoring it here.
And thank you so much for the inquisitive piglet and horse photo! I love it! <3
Thank you very much, too, Lavinia. A lovely moment X
Oh Derrick, I adored your photo of the “close encounter between a somewhat sheepish pony and a snuffling piglet.”
Thank you so much, Ivor. That was fun.
I loved the glowing outline of the cattle and trees in the opening images; the slanting rays have no doubt added to the glory.
That was the perfect light, Uma. Thanks very much.
Your alpaca photograph made me think that maybe these strange animals are a cross between sheep and plesiosaurs.
🙂 Thanks very much, John
So many creatures! Looks like you were on safari. X
Thanks a lot, Becky. When I log on to WP I am on Safari 🙂 XX
😖
The Midwest in the US is known for tornado winds and storms in summer. I ride around after the storm has passed, and see so many huge Oak and Gum trees broken like tooth picks due to the fury of these storms.
Do not like the havoc that the storms cause. Especially in the felling of the old and giant trees.
Thank you very much, Zakiah
Love the pictures. Looks like a wonderful day.
Thanks very much, Mrs W
Your welcome.
The animals you see so close at hand are very attractive to gaze upon. It almost seems like one pig is dancing… but perhaps it’s lifted leg is another thing altogether…or it is just caught mid-hop.
Sorry about the loss of your quercus. Always a sad event to lose such a giant.
Yes, Roland. I do hope no-one was under that one. Thanks very much.
That was a huge tree 🌳😢
It’s amazing to see all these animals wandering around 😉
Thank you very much, Ribana
Disaster is right! What a loss. Fun pictures of all the animals, though.
Thank you so much, Laurie
Die koeien bij die enorme dikke eik … , de bovenste drie . . . , geschilderd door oud Hollandse meesters in het Frans Hals Museum en anders gewoon in het Rijsmuseum van Amsterdam … Frans Hals meteen even googelen! Amsterdam, 8-10-2020, 17.20 uur … Hollandse “Zomertijd”… * http://www.friedabblog.wordpress.com * Groetjes!
Heel erg bedankt, Frieda
If only those old giants could talk they’ve seen so much.
Indeed. Thanks very much, Lindsey