Dignity with age

When do ancient and veteran trees lose their dignity for the sake of preservation?

I am all for keeping trees going as long as possible. In fact (warning: hippy-sounding-statement) I think its a bit of a con to believe that a human life is inherently worth more than the life of a tree, and so the idea of removing trees that have lived, grown and  seen 150, 200, maybe more years, just for our safety and convenience... its not entirely right in my opinion. We should look at ways of adjusting human behaviour to retain important trees, as well as sensitively working on the trees to reduce their hazard potential. That's why I posted about the sweet chestnut at Temple Newsam park in Leeds - the tree was vigorous, stable and posed no danger, thanks to both remedial tree surgery and the removal of targets/fencing off the tree.

However... when do we do so much work to trees that they are butchered, unrecognisable, and undignified, all for the sake of retention?

Last weekend a friend and I drove through the small town of Balfron, near Loch Lomond, specifically to have a good look at the Clachan Oak. However, I was slightly disappointed.

Don't get me wrong, the tree itself was impressive. It had been reduced, partly through tree surgery but also partly retrenchment. This gave it a lovely stag-headed quality. The tree was hollow inside, and apparently in the past a certain William Wallace has rested beneath it. I have no issues at all with people trying to save it; in fact, I would chain myself to it if I heard of people coming to fell it!

However, my issue is with how it has been retained. OK, I can understand and sympathise with the three big metal bands to hold the trunk together; it is, after all, next to the road through the village. But planks of wood to block up the internal cavity? Rust nails sticking out of them? One lying on the floor where it has fallen? Perhaps this is to stop someone climbing into the tree's cavity, and getting stuck or crushed. But really. If someone is going to do that, let them. Or, put up a small sign, perhaps giving some of the history of the tree and a small warning not to climb on it.

I loved the vibe and the feel of this tree, and would like to see it standing until it decides to fail, not until we decide to remove it. But lets give it the dignity that a being of this incomprehensible age should deserve; this tree will have 'seen' the village expand, travellers on horse back through the lane becoming motorists, and perhaps famous Scots resting underneath it. So lets put up a tasteful fence around it, perhaps make it more of a 'feature' to inform others about why it is so important, and remove those awful looking planks from its trunk.