Scenes from a village 15 - Woods and trees.wmv

Walking through any of the woods hereabouts one gets the feeling that these trees have for generations gone through their annual cycle of growth and decay and regeneration largely untouched by any human influence. Whatever management there is appears minimal and little more than the felling of a few trees for firewood. Leave the wood and out in the open many of the trees one encounters were planted at one time or another by someone from the village.
Trees are not planted for their ornamental qualities but because they yield fruit or timber, something that can be harvested. Villagers are not sentimental about their trees and think nothing of how a view might be radically changed for the loss of a tree, even if it was a tree that they had planted themselves, lived and grown up with for 50 or more years. But once cut down one quickly grows accustomed to seeing space where they once grew.
The row of pine trees that died when the workers laying the road cut through their roots has, in fact, provided Tamara and Mladen with some necessary timber to help in their restoration of Baka Jela's house.
Our orchard was planted some time after the house was built in the 1950s and sadly the days of this orchard yielding enough fruit to be distilled into brandy appear to be long gone and most of these, in all honestly, should be cut down and the orchard started again. But for us this approach is too radical and prefer the gradual replacement of a few trees each year.

Towards the end of the orchard one magnificent apple tree rises above the canopy of plums. Every couple of years the tree is laden to breaking point with fruit, the juice alone is intoxicating and one cannot begrudge the wasps for wanting to share in its pleasure.

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• andrew norris
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[GilesConradWatson]

I was fascinated by the pear tree in particular, and the fact that there is local hearsay about it having been planted by French soldiers. I wish I could uncover some folk memories about the trees here - there is a massive pear tree in a local field, and it would be wonderful to know when it had been planted - and how and when the local black poplar appeared. It was great to see the apple press in operation too.

[andrewnorris2]

@GilesConradWatson Thanks, Giles, for taking time to view these previous postings. Of these pear trees there are 6 remaining at our end of the village. I am working on a film about them, and how people believe they came to be here. The story of the french soldiers is perhaps not far fetched. This region was like a buffer zone during the A-H Empire, and french soldiers were conscripted in. Oral traditions and stories are somehow amazingly enduring.

[ronpolla]

Those trees can definitely teach us a lesson or two

[andrewnorris2]

@ronpolla Yes, they can, and yes, they do!

[stephenhayesuk]

Interesting comment about lack of sentimentality about cutting down (harvesting) an individual tree. Amen! Trees are a renewable crop and should be used well at the right time, with constant replanting.

Have you read 'The Generous Earth' by Philip Oyler? he wrote of a village in the Dordogne and expressed such views about the idea of trees being a renewable harvestable crop, albeit a long term one. Watching these beautifully filmed and wisely narrated videos reminds me of The Generous Earth.

[andrewnorris2]

@stephenhayesuk How nice to see you here and to know that you are watching these films, especially since I know you have tremendous demands on your time. i don't know the book you mention but I shall try and track it down here. I learnt last weekend (and this will feature in film no. 18 'Wild flowers and fallow fields') that many of the forest around the village are as a result of no livestock grazing the land. Each house had 2-3 heads of livestock. Tremendous change. All the best

[pnm1941]

Dear Andrew,

The village series never ceases to fascinate me! Your videography is so so good and professional and breathtaking and awesome! It is so humbling!! Congratulations!

[andrewnorris2]

@MidiPunk I understand your dilemma. The nurturing quality of trees cannot be underestimated but what to do about the necessity of growing food. I am so pleased that you appreciate these films from a similar position to us. Very kind of you to visit.

[andrewnorris2]

@Caspar33 I quite agree, though man's ceaseless replication has a marginally more detrimental effect on the environment. Good to see you here, and thanks.

All the best, Andrew

[dashpoet]

@andrewnorris2 A beautiful book, I was given as a gift some time ago. I lived with an ancient pear tree in the garden for some years, was my favourite. So beautiful in the spring, and fabulously fruitful. Cheers Andrew.