Chestnut Trees – Ink/Inktense on a Watercolour Moleskin

Two Chestnut trees grow at the east end of the village. They are so close that, when they are in full leaf, it looks as if there is only one large tree. They are also suffering from signs of distress as they are sending up fresh growth from their roots. An old(er) resident told me that the trees probably started life as small hedging plants, or even chestnut fencing posts which rooted, and were allowed, either by design or neglect, to mature. They have been pruned so often, to allow the road to remain clear, that they are fighting back by sending up “suckers”. The good news is the bend in the road, near the cottage, might be bypassed with a new road some distance away and the trees will be left in peace.