Save the environment - cut down the trees!

It's not often that someone will try to sell you a sawn-off tree as being good for the environment.

In this case, though, these trees are on the northwest of our house, shading everything with their big, leafy, albeit carbon-absorbing branches.

So although trees are good, pruning them to reduce our winter electricity use is way better.

They're growing on the neighbouring property, so this summer we approached our neighbour, who turned out to be absolutely lovely and very accommodating. He gave us permission to cut the trees right back.

The difference has been amazing. It's been way sunnier and warmer.

And the trees are already starting to grow again.