Tolkein is Hobbit Forming-

That’s Ent- tertainment

I don’t know if you’ve ever seen the Hobbit and Lord of the Ring films, or even read the books, but you are probably aware of the tale of the Hobbits and the story of the ring. Well in it some giant tree beasties meet the hobbits and as exemplars of the natural world help out the little folk. They were called ‘Ents’ and an elm tree in the Highlands named after the tree creatures in JRR Tolkien’s book  has been awarded the title of Scotland’s Tree of the Year. It is whimsically called ‘the Last Ent of Affric’ and it beat five other finalists in an online vote. If you remember other online votes we can be grateful it wasn’t called Woody McWoodface, like the unfortunately named Antarctic vessel Boaty McBoatface currently carried by the exploration ship the David Attenborough. Now I am excited about this tree because it has remained safe, because of its isolation from the appalling Elm disease that has ravaged this island. Called Dutch Elm Disease the sickness actually came from Canada in 1967and it proved both highly contagious and lethal to European elms. More than 25 million trees have died in the UK alone and the auld ally France has lost over 90% of its elms. Meanwhile the disease spread rapidly northwards, reaching Scotland by 1977.

Up an Elm Tree

The word Ent is the Anglo Saxon word for giant, although I don’t remember it from my time having to learn Anglo-Saxon at University, but Tolkein was an expert on the language and period. I also learned Old Norse and some Old Icelandic too, but scarce a word has stuck in my head. But back to the prize winning elm: The Last Ent stood forgotten in a spur off Glen Affric until it was recorded during a site visit in 2012.  This lonely elm is thought to be the only survivor of an ancient forest: Yes forests once covered most of the nation and deer are responsible along with farmers for not allowing this state to continue. This elm is hundreds of years old and hopefully it will stagger on for a few more generations. The winning tree receives a £1,000 care award thanks to a postcode Lottery and it will be spent on bolstering its health. Winning trees have also been chosen in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

More Tree Winners Here My Precious

If you are like me and like natural products what could be better than using naturally fallen oak to make hand crafted goodies. Scottish Oak, a part of the Just Slate family, makes some lovely and very attractive rustic oak boards. Each board is handmade and unique and will make the perfect chopping board. Did you know that wood has some natural antiseptic qualities? For a wonderful and welcome gift why not try the Scottish Oak - Thistle Oak Serving Board which is very highly rated by our customers. You can’t go wrong. My precious!

https://www.jamespirie.com/brands/scottish-oak/thistle-oak-serving-board-30cm.html