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geordie
Tol Eressea
Jul 30 2014, 5:14pm
Post #1 of 22
(1514 views)
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Sad news about JRR's favourite tree -
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The Black Pine in Oxford's Botanic Garden is soon to be no more. JRR was very fond of that tree; the last picture of him was taken with him standing beside it.
http://www.tolkiensociety.org/2014/07/tolkiens-favourite-tree-to-be-cut-down/
(This post was edited by geordie on Jul 30 2014, 5:15pm)
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Ethel Duath
Half-elven
Jul 30 2014, 7:30pm
Post #2 of 22
(1313 views)
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I wish it could be saved, somehow.
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DaughterofLaketown
Gondor
Jul 30 2014, 11:25pm
Post #3 of 22
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We should start a petition or something to save it. We shouldn't just let them cut it down! Is anyone on board for a petition?
http://www.amagpiesnest.com/a/torn/fotr25.jpg
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Altaira
Superuser
Jul 31 2014, 2:47am
Post #4 of 22
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Unfortunately, it's probably dying, and peoples' safety is at stake
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In case you didn't read the article (emphasis mine):
The Oxford Botanic Garden has announced that its large black pine ( pinus nigra), one of Tolkien’s favourite trees, will be cut down for safety reasons. Two large limbs fell from the tree last weekend, and Oxford City Council and Oxford University have been forced to make the very difficult decision that the tree will need to be cut down to avoid endangering the safety of its visitors and staff, and nearby structures.
From experience, I know that once a big tree like that starts dropping big limbs, it's well on it's way to dying and may already be dead. In a strong wind, the whole tree could fall over and easily injure or kill someone. I worked for a landscaper in a past life and know that a pine tree may still have green needles, but the heart of the tree can already be dead. Very, very sad, to be sure. But, unfortunately, trees don't live forever. 
On the bright side. I think it's wonderful that the Botanic Gardens wants to celebrate and commemorate the tree in connection with Tolkien, and has contacted to Tolkien Society for guidance. I'm sure they all love the tree too (it's a Botanic Gardens, after all, not a high rise developer), and are probably the most qualified to have made the decision that it just can't be saved.
Koru: Maori symbol representing a fern frond as it opens. The koru reaches towards the light, striving for perfection, encouraging new, positive beginnings.
"Life can't be all work and no TORn" -- jflower
"I take a moment to fervently hope that the camaradarie and just plain old fun I found at TORn will never end" -- LOTR_nutcase
(This post was edited by Altaira on Jul 31 2014, 4:10am)
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Ataahua
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Jul 31 2014, 3:24am
Post #6 of 22
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Branch fall in Kew Gardens recently
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killed a woman who was walking near it. There comes a time when you have to remove a tree for everyone's safety.
Celebrimbor: "Pretty rings..."
Dwarves: "Pretty rings..."
Men: "Pretty rings..."
Sauron: "Mine's better."
"Ah, how ironic, the addictive qualities of Sauron’s master weapon led to its own destruction. Which just goes to show, kids - if you want two small and noble souls to succeed on a mission of dire importance... send an evil-minded beggar with them too." - Gandalf's Diaries, final par, by Ufthak.
Ataahua's stories
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geordie
Tol Eressea
Jul 31 2014, 5:16pm
Post #8 of 22
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believe it or not, someone caught the moment on video -
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYZ_VlXB6pQ
Very scary.
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Aunt Dora Baggins
Immortal
Jul 31 2014, 7:08pm
Post #10 of 22
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This might cheer us all up a bit.
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One of the comments below that article said that several seeds from that tree have been planted in Poland. Here's one of the seedlings: http://a.disquscdn.com/uploads/mediaembed/images/1191/2635/original.jpg and here's an article (in Polish, which is no help to me) with another photo: link
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"For DORA BAGGINS in memory of a LONG correspondence, with love from Bilbo; on a large wastebasket. Dora was Drogo's sister, and the eldest surviving female relative of Bilbo and Frodo; she was ninety-nine, and had written reams of good advice for more than half a century."
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"A Chance Meeting at Rivendell" and other stories
leleni at hotmail dot com
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DaughterofLaketown
Gondor
Jul 31 2014, 10:12pm
Post #11 of 22
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Also maybe as an idea they could use the wood from the tree to create something, (necklaces, other trinkets), and sell them to fans who could then have a part of the tree to keep. They could use the money made to fund the upkeep of the rest of the park and other trees.
(This post was edited by DaughterofLaketown on Jul 31 2014, 10:15pm)
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Meneldor
Valinor
Aug 1 2014, 1:41am
Post #12 of 22
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During the crusades, it was said
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that if every splinter of the cross in England could be gathered in one place, there would be enough wood to build a fair-sized ship.
I like the idea, but I'd have to be a little skeptical of the authenticity of the trinkets.
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters, these see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. -Psalm 107
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Altaira
Superuser
Aug 1 2014, 3:20am
Post #13 of 22
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From reading the story on the Bontanc Gardens site, I was under the impression they had cleared out the area long before the branches actually fell. In reality, it was a really close call!
From watching that video, they had chairs and blanket set up under the tree, probably for Tolkien fans to use to sit and admire the tree. Thank goodness someone realized what was happening and cleared the area.
As sad as it is, after watching the video, it really seems like the best thing to do to cut it down. I'm sure Tolkien wouldn't have wanted his favorite tree to be the cause of injuring, or possibly killing, people who have the same love of nature, and of Middle-earth, as he did.
Koru: Maori symbol representing a fern frond as it opens. The koru reaches towards the light, striving for perfection, encouraging new, positive beginnings.
"Life can't be all work and no TORn" -- jflower
"I take a moment to fervently hope that the camaradarie and just plain old fun I found at TORn will never end" -- LOTR_nutcase
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Altaira
Superuser
Aug 1 2014, 3:34am
Post #14 of 22
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I honestly can't read that quote without my eyes welling up with tears. If only they could lay the black pine in Rath Dinen! Since they can't, the *can* honor Tolkien in other ways, which it seems they're already well on their way to doing.
When I was a child, there was a huge, magnificent cottonwood tree in a field across the street from our house. One day, when I about nine or so, they cut it down to make way for a housing division. They had to close the street, and when it fell, the top of it landed in our front yard, which is impressive because by then the street was 4-lanes by then. To this day, I still morn a little for that amazing tree.
It really is lucky that the staff of the Oxford Botanic Gardens are so conscientious of the meaning of that tree to Tolkien fans, and are doing everything they can to preserve its memory, and the fact that it was so cherished by Tolkien.
Koru: Maori symbol representing a fern frond as it opens. The koru reaches towards the light, striving for perfection, encouraging new, positive beginnings.
"Life can't be all work and no TORn" -- jflower
"I take a moment to fervently hope that the camaradarie and just plain old fun I found at TORn will never end" -- LOTR_nutcase
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Altaira
Superuser
Aug 1 2014, 3:37am
Post #15 of 22
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How awesome that they've already been thinking of extending the life of that tree via seedlings! Or, maybe, Entlings? 
You definitely cheered me up! Thanks for finding, and posting, that. 
Koru: Maori symbol representing a fern frond as it opens. The koru reaches towards the light, striving for perfection, encouraging new, positive beginnings.
"Life can't be all work and no TORn" -- jflower
"I take a moment to fervently hope that the camaradarie and just plain old fun I found at TORn will never end" -- LOTR_nutcase
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DanielLB
Immortal
Aug 1 2014, 6:13am
Post #16 of 22
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I really hope they plant another tree in the same spot - in commemoration of the old one and for the new generation to enjoy and love.
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Timdalf
Rivendell
Aug 2 2014, 5:05pm
Post #17 of 22
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Write to Oxford U and Oxford City Council
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and start the idea they should provide bits of the Tree as souvenirs for Tolkienites world wide!
And I love the idea of putting a good bit near the Tolkien grave site. Perhaps a shrine-like affair above it. With the consent of his descendants of course.
https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/cms/content/contact-oxfordshire-county-council
(This post was edited by Timdalf on Aug 2 2014, 5:08pm)
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DaughterofLaketown
Gondor
Aug 3 2014, 4:48am
Post #18 of 22
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I know many people would love to buy things made from the wood if given the opportunity.
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LordotRings93
Rohan
Aug 4 2014, 8:40pm
Post #19 of 22
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Feels like a part of Tolkien's getting cut down in the process...
The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies 12/17/14
"I know what I must do. It's just... I'm afraid to do it."
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geordie
Tol Eressea
Aug 7 2014, 7:00pm
Post #21 of 22
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Not sure how I feel about trinkets being made -
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- and as for the idea of any kind of a 'shrine' - no; definitely not for me.
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geordie
Tol Eressea
Aug 7 2014, 7:04pm
Post #22 of 22
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- well, several times a year anyway. We've collected a few cones from that tree over the years. Can't keep them all, obviously; but we still have one here, near me as I type.
I can always tell when it's going to rain.
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