Requiem or Celebration for Ash
Accompanied by ‘Among the Ashes’ composed for string quartet by Lisa Robertson, performed by Glisk
Ash dieback, caused by a windborne fungus, is already having a significant impact in Scotland and it is estimated that it will kill 50-75% of Ash trees in the next few decades. That percentage represents around 10 million mature Ash trees falling to the disease, along with around 64 million saplings and younger trees*.
Fiona’s story however is of a wonderfully healthy Ash tree that, despite being knocked by gales, has thrived in a significant spot, marking some local history and acting as a living monument.
The Tower House Ash before the storm damage of 2021.
Ash trees are miracles of economy. They come into leaf late and lose their leaves early, yet grow fast, with strong, useful wood. They are lovely, shedding dappled shade and offering wonderful light, filtered through pretty, many-lobed leaves. One ash I have loved grows on the footings of an old tower house in the Borders.
The story goes that, when the tower was inhabited, the tutor to the son of the laird murdered his pupil and buried him by the tower. I like to think of the tree flourishing on his grave, a monument that has lasted nearly 300 years, until now. Storm Arwen took half of the tree, and recent autumn squalls have taken the rest. The metre or two of stump stands like a broken tooth, yet even from this, new shoots, probably a few years old, will clearly get away again.
It has never shown any sign of ash die back and it will survive, I am sure. Maybe it is actually growing on the best fertilised place: new research is showing that trees which succumb to die back lack certain elements in their microbiome. In that discovery there may lie hope for restoring many trees that are currently ailing.
The contributor of this story, Fiona Martynoga, engaged in an ambitious project to live the life of a Scottish resident 200 years ago in diet, clothing, heating and more – you can read about her experiences in her book The Garden Cottage Diaries, published by Saraband.
The Ash seen from a distance.
*These figures are taken from the Tree Council guide. If you are interested to learn more, you can read the Woodland Trust information on Ash Dieback here: Woodland Trust - Ash dieback