My article ‘Ash Dieback and the Dying World Tree’ has been published on Gods & Radicals HERE.
‘In the Norse myths the great ash, Yggdrasil, is the World Tree. Its image is one of ecological integrity. Ash dieback, a disease of the European ash, has both profound ecological and mythological implications.’
Although I am a Brythonic polytheist, in this piece, I speak of my experiences of the Norse tradition in the Lancashire landscape through ceremonies with seidr man Runic John and my handful of encounters with the Norse gods, who I feel called me to write it.
It also feels relevant as I have been involved with the Woodland Welfare Project as a conservation intern at Brockholes Nature Reserve. This aims to manage ash dieback by removing dying trees, saving resistant trees, and tree planting to improve diversity.
Hard to believe its 8 years since we first heard about Ash die back – where did that time go? Good article, loved the glow in the photo at the bottom
Some suggestive parallels between ash die-back and the health of Yggdrasill (‘terrible horse’ ridden by Odinn) as the World Tree.
Walking through my local woodland recently I noticed that several trees had been felled and left lying. They all seemed to be ash trees so I presume it was because of the disease. I know its generally good to leave fallen trees to decompose in woodlands. But I wondered if they should have been removed to stop the disease spreading, or if its OK to leave them there?
As far as I’m aware it’s when the fungus is on the leaves that it is the most infectious so I imagine leaving the trees there is ok.