Tree Damage

We have been in our house about a quarter of a century.  For most of that time, we have encouraged the trees near the boundaries to grow. We like trees around the edge of the garden.  However, it is not a huge garden, reasonable by Billericay standards but not really large enough to support mature trees.

A couple of years back we had to remove a silver birch - a tree that Andrew had planted, that was leaning at a precarious angle.

There is also a silver birch at the back of the garden, with an oak tree close by.  I'm hoping the oak can stay.

My foot gives a sense of scale and helps to show just how far the concrete gravel boards have been 'bent' by the birch.  The piece of fence was originally bought to confine Brody, but was never used.  It is a good temporary barrier to keep him from exploring a new garden.

The holly tree is at an alarming angle, but does not point in the direction of the shed.  If it fell, the worst victim would be next door's fence, which is already supported on a cut gravel board that allows its roots to pass under the fence.  I'm unsure whether the tree on the right is part of the one tree or separate.  If it is separate, the roots must be completely mingled.

These pictures record the before situation.  More when the trees are down.  In that time I will work out how to replace them too, I hope.