There are two parts to this story really. One is about the museum – or maybe about museums in general. Yes, we love old things with the appropriate local connections, but we also see part of our mission as to preserve what happens now for the future. On February 27th we were asked how old things had to be before we were interested. We were watching some poplars being felled at the time so to make a point – the process is already a part of the museum.
There’s an old story that landowners planted poplars on the day their daughter was born. As quick growing trees it was reckoned they could be felled and sold to pay for that daughter’s wedding. Matches are often made of poplar wood so a huge size of tree is not needed.
Three such trees in Market Lavington were in the wrong place and, accepting it is always sad to see trees go, these had to be felled. They were tall, spindly trees and there was no space to fell them in one go. They had to be taken down carefully, bit by bit.
Tree feller at work – Parsonage Lane, Market Lavington
This was taken across the yard of the former Volunteer pub. A stump to the left shows that one tree has basically gone. And there’s a chap at work up that high tree.
How do they do it? Hanging by a thread!
Yes, he’s there with a chain saw dangling from him as he sorts ropes and positions for the next cut.
Each branch needed care and also needed a rope fastened to it so an unseen assistant could lower it gently to the ground.
Swing off the topmost part
And there it goes.
which is lowered gently to the ground
Market Lavington Museum 