So, the Woodland Trust are felling five of the oak trees on the reserve who have Acute Oak Decline. They believe that the three bacteria involved in the condition may be influencing the behaviour of beetles, encouraging them to infect more trees. They thus want to fell the trees to peel the bark and raise the beetles in the lab.
I am somewhat conflicted - as cutting down big trees will be a frightening occurrence for the residents. There is a badger nursery sett nearby. Yet I would love it if there were a way to help oak trees.
My suspicion is this: these three bacteria are not novel, their interaction is. So why are they interacting in this novel and damaging way? Well, maybe because the deficiencies in soil (caused by changes in land use, disturbance of soil - when woodlands are destroyed and land tilled - and agricultural chemicals, as well as rain that is more acidic, increased temperatures, more droughts and flooding) have created an environment in which some bacteria flourish to the detriment of other micro-organisms. So, were some of the "good" micro-organisms added to the soil (which probably can't be done) or sprayed on the trees, maybe the damaging interactions would be inhibited?
Personally, I think this is very clever.
Anyway, since I learned that the trees are to be felled, I have used my time in the wood to see what the wood and the trees feel about this. The conclusion: not much. I think that something of the connectedness of the trees makes individual lives less salient. I get a greater sense of the woodland wanting better conditions for its flourishing.
Once I knew that the trees had been selected, I went to encounter each tree and to pay some sort of homage. I experienced sadness from only one tree, number 2. This tree, I sensed, was concerned at the loss of habitat: rooks nest in the tree, a little plant is growing in a space between stems, and this one of the three looks as though they might survive for the longest.
Anyway, here is my tribute to the trees, those to be felled and others who have already died.
A difficult situation. A fine tribute for the oaks.