Happy Christmas from our Hampstead trees

These are the magnificent copper beeches that look down over the Boating Pond, now shorn of their shining bronzed leaves.

And I thought that while you were looking at the trees, you might like to listen to some of our birds – not birds up here on the hill but in Kenwood Woods a few days ago. Not very tuneful I fear as it is almost entirely parakeets and crows – but as the lady who was passing said – it is like being in the jungles of Madagascar!

This is one of my favourite trees. Not because it is that beautiful but because it was determined that its situation on the edge of a clump of its fellows was not going to hold it back. Note that all of its very substantial branches grown out to the left with none at all invading the space of its neighbour to the right.

Another tree that is certainly not giving up is this willow down by South End Green. There really is very little left of it – but it is shooting already for next spring.

And how about these for roots?

Maybe a bit late to buy as a Christmas present, but you if you love trees and you want some holiday reading, you really should get a copy of The Overstory,  Richard Powers amazing, Pullitzer Prize winning book. It traces the story of a group of strangers who come together in a desperate attempt to save the trees of the Pacific North East coast from the chain saws of the commercial logging companies.  See a review in the Guardian here.

So finally to a tree, not actually on the heath but in Highgate village – looking through the evening sky towards the city.

I don’t expect that many, if any, of your will get to go skiing this year – so for a little vicarious thrill!