On a stormy night in April 2013, a resounding crack echoed around a valley in north-east Wales and when day broke a melancholy sight met the eyes of villagers.
The mighty Pontfadog oak, a glorious tree that had stood sentinel over the Ceiriog valley for 1,200 years, had been toppled, and a heap of broken branches, decayed wood, lichens and fungi lying among the spring flowers.
