HAWTHORN RESCUE!

We took an impulse decision to remove an old and rampant rose which was absolutely suffocating a hawthorn tree.  In all the years it had been there, the rose had never once born a single flower.  A real dog in a manger as it also prevented the hawthorn from flowering!  Chris never hesitates when it comes to anything difficult or challenging and this was both!  The stems were hugely think with vicious thorns.  It was the Putin of roses!  We filled 2 bulk bags and 2 wheelbarrows with chopped up rose.  The little hawthorn tree can now breathe again and can see light!! Whilst these photos demonstrate before and after: as nothing is in leaf, they don't demonstrate just how much darkness the poor hawthorn suffered!

! should add that last autumn's homemade hawthorn jelly was the best ever.  Maybe this year, I can make even more!