The last of an old Bramley apple tree in the orchard, the bark has all gone, stripped by the wind, to reveal the handiwork of some kind of parasite making its own complex patterns in the now rock hard and well seasoned wood.
There is however one last act for this old dead tree and that is to be felled, sawn and split and finally turned into kindling and logs for the fire.
When we've got the fire burning we can decide what to plant in its place.