We are in the process of arranging approval with Historic Scotland for the next preservation project ... hopefully to be carried out this winter. As mentioned earlier, a mature Scots Elm just to the north of the cellar entrance is threatening the structure of the cellar (or Dungeon as it is often called). We propose to coppice that Scots Elm to remove weight and strain from the cellar structure and to inhibit root growth. A coppiced tree is cut approximately a foot above ground level. The tree remains alive, but focuses all its energy to new growth and has little root growth. The expansion of penetrating roots will damage and destroy masonry walls over time. We plan to use the same licensed tree surgeon we used for Project 2 and the work will be per the guidance of Historic Scotland and under the supervision of local archaeologist, Fiona Baker. We hope to cut selected saplings that are penetrating the castle walls as well.
The most visible impact of the proposed project will come from the trimming of the ivy currently covering the castle walls. The ivy will be cut back heavily ... removing weight from the structure and hopefully focusing the survivng ivy on new growth and reducing root expansion. The ivy roots penetrate the masonry and if the ivy is killed, the roots die ... leaving voids. Water can enter these voids and freeze damage can be worse than from the slow growth of the ivy. The long-term best solution is probably to kill the ivy and repoint/consolidate the masonry. That is a much bigger project than our current scope and a full archaeological study needs to be completed before such work would be approved.
That comprehensive archaeological study could conceivably be an extension to Project 3 ... depending on available funding ... but it likely a separate project in itself.
Trimming the ivory and coppicing selected trees will give us our castle back, however. Hopefully, next summer's visitors won't have to imagine that the "tree with a window in it" is our castle.
The most visible impact of the proposed project will come from the trimming of the ivy currently covering the castle walls. The ivy will be cut back heavily ... removing weight from the structure and hopefully focusing the survivng ivy on new growth and reducing root expansion. The ivy roots penetrate the masonry and if the ivy is killed, the roots die ... leaving voids. Water can enter these voids and freeze damage can be worse than from the slow growth of the ivy. The long-term best solution is probably to kill the ivy and repoint/consolidate the masonry. That is a much bigger project than our current scope and a full archaeological study needs to be completed before such work would be approved.
That comprehensive archaeological study could conceivably be an extension to Project 3 ... depending on available funding ... but it likely a separate project in itself.
Trimming the ivory and coppicing selected trees will give us our castle back, however. Hopefully, next summer's visitors won't have to imagine that the "tree with a window in it" is our castle.
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