Apples are bad for you

[Gob]

Residents are outraged at a council's 'ludicrous' plans to chop down four apple trees because the fruit which falls to the ground is a 'tripping hazard'.



The large trees have sat in the heart of Westwood in Wiltshire for over 30 years and the apples are eaten by locals who also use them to make cider and jam.

But four of the five trees have now been earmarked to be cut down after the fallen fruit was deemed a health and safety risk.

The trees line a footpath and the local parish council has apparently said people might stumble on the fruit - making them dangerous.


Nearly 200 people have signed a petition against the proposals with organisers saying the trees face the chop because the fruit was deemed a tripping risk.

Villager David McQueen, 56, who launched the petition in November, has condemned the plans to destroy the four mature apple trees labelling it 'eco vandalism'.

Mr McQueen said: 'They are fantastic trees and so far over 150 people have signed my petition to save them, which is amazing considering the size of the village.

'This is the last chance to save these beautiful trees that are a resource for the children and residents of the village, for birds and insects and which provide habitat for wildlife.

'Cutting them down would be an act of eco vandalism. Westwood Parish Council want to cut down four of Westwood Park's apple trees.

A comment on the petition from Diana Lindsey said: 'These trees were planted by the Parish Council over 30 years ago for the people of Westwood to gather the fruit and for the wildlife to also benefit.

'It is ridiculous to chop them down on the pathetic excuse that someone might trip over the fallen apples.

'People can look where they are going and the trees can be left to continue to help protect the planet.'

Another petitioner, Polly, wrote: 'In a world where we need to be thinking about planting more trees and reducing emissions, the reasoning behind cutting down these trees that are causing no harm seems ludicrous.'

Janine Sparks added: 'Please do not cut down these trees! Put a sign up instead warning people to watch their step!!!!

'We need more trees, not less, and an apple tree provides food for people and wildlife.'

'My little boy loves picking apples up from this tree on our way to the park,' Emma Wilkinson added.

Roger Coleman, clerk to Westwood Parish Council, said that after a 'lengthy discussion' at their meeting on December 6 they have resolved to invite Nick Cranston, of Acer Tree Surgeons, to take action 'in respect' of a Scots pine close to the play area and the four apple trees in the park.

Mr McQueen added that he still doesn't understand the council's reasons for chopping the trees down.

He said: 'After speaking to two members of the Parish Council extensively for half an hour, I still didn't understand a logical reason for their decision to cut down the apple trees.

'The only reason they gave was an overhanging branch of one of the tree's bushes was dropping apples onto the path.

'Another reason the council stated was the trees were 'self-seeded' but actually this is not the case, the apple trees were planted by the council years ago.

'Having heard all the arguments the community members gave for not cutting the trees down - protecting biodiversity, supporting local cider brewers, our current climate crisis and so much more - the council had made their decision to destroy the trees anyway.

'I now believe we may have a chance at saving these beautiful trees, but only because of all the negative publicity.'

[ex-khobar Andy]

Unfortunately now that someone has started the ball rolling, there may be no good solution. The council has been informed that there is a danger of slippage. Someone - and it just takes one - will bang his head and instead of saying "O shit, I should look where I am going" the way most of us will do, will take it into said damaged head to sue the council for £££ on the grounds that they allowed a known hazardous condition to persist, and some idiot judge and/or jury will decide that someone's gotta pay. Too late.

[Burning Petard]

Apples? Slippage? What about the danger of walking on soft ground after rain? They should put a roof over this park.

Safe? Nothing short of death is SAFE. Once you are dead, no more harm can come to you. You won't even notice if a giant asteroid crashes into the earth. Safe is only relative--safer than something else or some other condition. They should have stood in bed.

Besides, according to the picture, the tree is desperately in need of pruning.

snailgate

[MajGenl.Meade]

Prunes are dangerous too!

[Sue U]

Unfortunately now that someone has started the ball rolling, there may be no good solution. The council has been informed that there is a danger of slippage. Someone - and it just takes one - will bang his head and instead of saying "O shit, I should look where I am going" the way most of us will do, will take it into said damaged head to sue the council for £££ on the grounds that they allowed a known hazardous condition to persist, and some idiot judge and/or jury will decide that someone's gotta pay. Too late.

This is not personal injury liability lawsuit issue; this is a town council "health & safety" issue. Don't make this about lawsuits which have never been filed, you're playing into the hands of corporate interests who want people to believe that all personal injury claims are frivolous.

[Long Run]

I totally agree with the heading. My blood pressure surges every time I use my MacBook. What happened to the days when Apples were so much easier than PCs; total reversal, my PC at work is far more intuitive and simple to use. No right click, wtf. Oh, you're talking about the actual fruit. Never mind.

[BoSoxGal]

Apple trees are lovely - they feed everything from bees to coyotes (yes coyotes like fallen apples too!) and women’s souls. Cutting down a healthy apple tree is always a moral outrage.

[Scooter]

Perhaps the 200 people who signed the petition could commit to picking up 20 or 30 fallen apples every time they pass by - problem solved.

[Econoline]

I totally agree with the heading. My blood pressure surges every time I use my MacBook. What happened to the days when Apples were so much easier than PCs; total reversal, my PC at work is far more intuitive and simple to use. No right click, wtf.

LR, you win this thread!

[Crackpot]

Though they have had right click for well over a decade now

[ex-khobar Andy]

Unfortunately now that someone has started the ball rolling, there may be no good solution. The council has been informed that there is a danger of slippage. Someone - and it just takes one - will bang his head and instead of saying "O shit, I should look where I am going" the way most of us will do, will take it into said damaged head to sue the council for £££ on the grounds that they allowed a known hazardous condition to persist, and some idiot judge and/or jury will decide that someone's gotta pay. Too late.

This is not personal injury liability lawsuit issue; this is a town council "health & safety" issue. Don't make this about lawsuits which have never been filed, you're playing into the hands of corporate interests who want people to believe that all personal injury claims are frivolous.

Of course it's currently a H&S issue although, in my view and I have only seen the picture here, specious. But now that the town council has had a meeting to discuss the issue, in the event of a lawsuit they can no longer say "we didn't know it was dangerous.' By no means are all personal injury lawsuits frivolous although I have twice been in the situation where I had to tell a lawyer, anxious to sue on my behalf, that my injury was not all that bad and yes, I was still able to have normal relations with my wife. His disappointment (two separate lawyers) was obvious. So although I know that many (most) PI lawsuits are not frivolous, and far too many are not filed when they should be, many are and the proximity of deepish pockets is sometimes an incentive. And I'm willing to bet that the uppermost thought in the minds of the worthies who run Westwood is not the H&S of their townsfolk but their potential liability.

[Bicycle Bill]

I totally agree with the heading. My blood pressure surges every time I use my MacBook. What happened to the days when Apples were so much easier than PCs; total reversal, my PC at work is far more intuitive and simple to use. No right click, wtf.

LR, you win this thread!

You realize, of course, that Apple has already insinuated itself into our pantries as well.

What — you never heard of Mac and cheese?
(which, by the way, would infer that somewhere out there, one should be able to find PC and cheese too!!)

-"BB"-

[Joe Guy]

.....Besides, according to the picture, the tree is desperately in need of pruning.....

I agree. The tree in the photograph looks as though it has never been pruned. It needs to be heavily pruned and then maintained. Also, since there are no leaves on the tree that I can see, it looks like it's in its dormant stage (so could be a current photo), which means those apples on the ground must have been there for quite a long time. That can cause insects to lay eggs in the apples and also attracts rodents and large complaining people who want the benefit of free apples but don't want to take care of the tree(s) or clean up the mess around them.

[Gob]

Perhaps the 200 people who signed the petition could commit to picking up 20 or 30 fallen apples every time they pass by - problem solved.

If it were near me I'd be making scrumpy from them.

[Bicycle Bill]

If it were near me I'd be making scrumpy from them.

Ahhh — the Roundworld equivalent of scumble!

Scumble

Scumble is made from apples.  Well, mainly apples, which in no way guarantees a low alcohol content.  Scumble is drunk in thimblefuls, is strong enough to be used for cleaning spoons, and should not be put in a metal container or allowed to come into contact with water.  Someone who can drink a lot of scumble all at once without ill effects is probably not really human.  Authentic scumble is made in Lancre, in a secret still owned and operated by Nanny Ogg.  Nanny welcomed King Verence II's decree of prohibition, as she reckoned it would leave her with no competitors.

She does have many small competitors, most using freeze-distillation like some Applejack.  Other producers ferment pure apple juice and freeze high-proof popskull out of it, a notorious beverage down into the plains.  Nanny Ogg will only list her ingredients as "apples, mostly"; her brandy manages to be much more potent than normal brandy.  A well-ordered still can increase the proof and eliminate unpleasant by-products, and a few minor additions from a witch's pharmacopoeia can work wonders.  Nanny Ogg's prowess with alcoholic beverages is well-known — as is her product, known everywhere that men fall over backwards into ditches as 'suicider'.

The best apples for making scumble are:  Lancre Blackheart, the Golden Disagreeable, and the Green Billet.

Related Roundworld drinks:  Calvados (strong apple brandy distilled in Normandy), Apple Brandy and Scrumpy (which have long been produced in Somerset), and Applejack (made in North America) — and a flattering imitation by Ales by Mail, 'Nanny Ogg's Scumble Cider'.
(from 'L-Space', the Discworld Wiki)

-"BB"-

[Gob]

That's the stuff!

[Crackpot]

Is it beyond these people to pick them up? My BIL uses nut rollers to pick up apples on their property that they sell for “deer apples” and they have well over 3 trees

[MGMcAnick]

One of my nephews married a doctor. He can't eat apples anymore. Must be working. They have two boys.

[Long Run]

Keep those cards and emails rolling in. It ain't over 'til the Pink Lady sings.

[Big RR]

I imagine she sings at the Gala?