Branching Out

Branches grow in many ways. In public parks and woods, they’re amputated to keep the bushels safe from the people and the people safe as they can’t climb up the tree. They can’t pick up the blossoms or the mushrooms that might grow on its branches. They can’t risk getting a cut or splinter or a branch landing on their head. But even though the council can’t do much about the leaves, it still leaves the tree vulnerable. What they think will protect could actually harm it. Some branches just don’t grow back. The growth is stunted and restricted to the way in which the tree can move or tilt itself towards the sun. That might suit the locals since it won’t restrict anyone’s view or it could be less likely to cause damage should it fall. It might even be angled to fall in a particular direction. And the tree might just fight back or die altogether which would be a waste of everyone’s time.