Baccha-baccha-bacchae

I went to London to see a play, on which more shortly, and I had scheduled time for a long walk. Two and a half hours. Off I set and in Regent's Park I came upon a chestnut felled as it was unstable and next to a footpath. It probably would have been fine for a few years yet, I reckon, so it's just as well I am not a Tree Safety Officer. You can see how the fungus was eating the heart out of the tree.

Still, the detritus would drop down inside the tree, eventually become soil, and thus feed the tree.

The parks can make London feel green... but a Farm Shop in Mayfair, really?

I like these pollarded trees near Big Ben, but I could not work out what they are.

ChatGPT says they are catalpa trees, also known as Indian bean and I think it might be right. Yup...

Peering through the railings beneath Big Ben you can see six old trees with contorted trunks and bean-like pods under big leaves. These unusual North American trees date from 1857. In summer they have large white flowers.

There only seem to be four... this article was in 2013... so it seems the trees avoided a threat to their lives in 1994. This is from the House of Lords in October 1994:

§ The Chairman of Committees (Lord Ampthill) My Lords, as a result of a decision of both Houses that Black Rod's garden should become the main entrance to the Palace of Westminster for vehicles and the public, sadly it will be necessary during the construction work to cut down four of the five Catalpa trees. Three of them will be replaced and there will be five new Prunus and three Magnolia trees, as particular regard is being paid to landscaping and aesthetic factors in planning the new entrance.

§ Lord Beaumont of Whitley My Lords, I thank the noble Lord the Chairman of Committees for that moderately satisfactory reply. Can he tell the House whether the central tree—the one which is so beautifully framed by the arch from the Lord Chancellor's courtyard and which can be seen the whole length of the Palace of Westminster—can be left where it is?

§ The Chairman of Committees Alas, no, my Lords. The one that is being retained is the one nearest the river. The four which have to go will be replaced but set slightly further back. I will ensure that the point 641 made by the noble Lord is taken into account. We are receiving most excellent advice on how the new garden should be laid out. The current president of the Landscape Institute has been advising us throughout. Westminster City Council has the most admirable expert on trees who is also giving us his help. I am quite certain that the final result in Black Rod's garden, when it is completed next summer, will be infinitely preferable to that which prevails today.

§ The Earl of Perth My Lords, in these days it is possible to move trees of a great size. Indeed, it has been done in the past. Will the people who have contemplated the cutting down consider whether it would be possible to move one or two of the Catalpa trees to another place and so continue their existence, recognising that it may not succeed but would be worth while?

§ The Chairman of Committees My Lords, I am sure that the noble Earl is a far greater expert on Catalpa trees than I am. But it is my understanding that in London their life is very rarely beyond 50 years. To the best of our knowledge, these trees were planted at the time that the dreadful contraption was built in Black Rod's garden to conceal the boiler house beneath it which serves the whole of the Palace of Westminster. The trees were planted to obscure it. If it is true that the trees have a life of only 50 years, they will not be with us for a great deal longer because that construction was put up about 40 years ago.

§ Lord Kilbracken My Lords, the Catalpa trees in New Palace Yard must be considerably more than 50 years old. Is the noble Lord aware that they are in considerable need of attention and loving care? Will he see that that is provided?

§ The Chairman of Committees Alas, my Lords, I have no responsibility for what takes place in New Palace Yard. I shall certainly convey the noble Lord's views to the other end of the Palace of Westminster. But I have a nasty feeling that the trees may be coming to the end of their useful life. Alas, they do not live for so long as, fortunately, do so many of your Lordships.

§ Lord Skelmersdale My Lords, the whole House will grieve that those four Catalpa trees must be cut down. I am concerned about their replacement. Does the noble Lord agree that in such a historic setting we would be far better advised to consider British trees rather than exotics such as Magnolia and Prunus which the noble Lord mentioned?

§ The Chairman of Committees My Lords, I do not think that I disclose a secret when I say that the noble Lord has a vast knowledge of market gardening. I dare say he may have something in mind to suggest. Without wishing to imply that he has an interest, I shall certainly take note of what he said.

Is that not strange? I mean, that is our legislature???

Anyway, the play. The Bacchae. It was good - the dance element was great and the production very cool. The play itself... apparently it's the writer's first and it felt like it was ticking all boxes and not really hanging together convincingly. Still, it was worth it.

Not sure the blisters from my hike were. It's now 44 hours later and I still can't do more than hobble.