Sadly, the NT were recently forced to remove the holm oak that has been growing inside the flint tower known as Broadwood’s Folly at Box Hill.  The tree has been looking decidedly ill for the last year or so and was having a detrimental effect on the stability of the Tower.  See the full explanation of the decision on the NT website.

The work was carried out by tree surgeons who used a “cherry picker” to access the Tower from the top.  Branches were carefully lopped off to avoid too much sudden movement of the tree which was actually resting on the Tower at the top causing a large crack and severe crumbling of the mortar.  Once the top branches were gone the tree surgeon climbed onto the trunk inside the tower to lower the crown, leaving the majority of the trunk in place.  Hopefully it can be incorporated in whatever restoration work NT decide on for the future of the Tower.

Once the work was complete, the Friends’ Chairman, Lyn Richards, was offered the opportunity to go up in the cherry picker to see the result of the work from the top, and also admire the even more magnificent views of Box Hill from well above the Tower.