Meet Nick Johnson

Nick spoke at the Allen Valleys Wild Life group tonight about the  Northumbria Veteran Tree Project. It was fascinating. Did you know that there are ancient trees, veteran trees and remarkable trees? 

The remarkable ones don't have to be very old, but do have particular significance to the community.

The sycamore tree in Sycamore Gap on Hadrian's Wall is one such. Nick had been asked to give advice about how to make sure that the tree was cared for appropriately, but his recommendations were not used because the tree was felled.  (Two men have now been found guilty of that crime.)

The book in Nick's hand is the Catalogue of the Remarkable Trees of Northumberland and Durham, written by George Clayton Atkinson  published in the 1880s. The book contains photographs of the trees so was well ahead of its time.

I won't go on, but I have the germ of an idea for a new special interest walk for the walking festival next year!

On the way home I listened to the first chapter of Saint Petersburg by Sinclair McKay. I'm already hooked. His research is deep but the book is anything but dry.

I had a quiet day before this. I tried to do more sorting of Mum's things but felt as though I had achieved little. There is much more to do.