Pollarding or Tree Abuse?

Day 31  Arzua to Rua

Miles today:  11.7

Elevation Gain:  762’

Descent:  1117’

Walking miles: 378.9

Total Camino miles:  492.7

Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport – Unknown

Throughout Spain we have noticed what we consider to be grotesquely pruned trees in most villages, towns, and cities. To us it appears to be a form of “tree abuse”. We did some research on this bizarre practice and learned it is done throughout Europe and today is done primarily on a tree called the English Plane Tree. Mostly we have seen it in its winter form when it is severely pruned and not leafed out yet. Supposedly these trees are more attractive once the new growth leafs out. The following is a bit about pollarding along with some photos of the trees. The ultimate pollard success appears to be to get nearby trees to actually fuse branches with one another, such as across a street.

Attractive or tree abuse? I will let you decide! 

Pollarding, a pruning system involving the removal of the upper branches of a tree, promotes a dense head of foliage and branches. In ancient Rome, Propertius mentioned pollarding during the 1st century BCE.[1] The practice occurred commonly in Europe since medieval times, and takes place today in urban areas worldwide, primarily to maintain trees at a determined height. Traditionally, people pollarded trees for one of two reasons: for fodder to feed livestock or for wood.

"Poll" was originally a name for the top of the head, and "to poll" was a verb meaning "to crop the hair". This use was extended to similar treatment of the branches of trees and the horns of animals. A pollard simply meant someone or something that had been polled; for example, a hornless ox or polled livestock. Later, the noun "pollard" came to be used as a verb: "pollarding". Pollarding has now largely replaced polling as the verb in the forestry sense.

Today is a beautiful weather day! Sunny and comfortably cool.

Our walk is again reasonable at under twelve miles. My back is bad once again so today is a struggle for me. Much slower than normal. Our hotel is in a tiny village and unfortunately located within feet of a busy highway. It will be an ear plug night for sure. Great dinner and good wine.

Tomorrow we walk the final leg into Santiago, where all the various Caminos from across Europe all merge into one city at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the reputed burial place of Saint James the Great, the apostle of Jesus.

We have a day of rest in Santiago and the next day Blaze, Eileen, Judy, and I will began a five day walk on the Camino Finesterre to the coast of Spain. 

The adventure continues!