FELLING has started on a famous phallic-shaped woods near the M74 in Scotland.
The small area of woodland, located north of Crawford and east of Abington, is visible from the M74 close to the border with England, representing one of the first sights drivers catch when driving up into Scotland.
But drivers and concerned onlookers flocked to social media when images started to emerge – including on Reddit – that the area of trees was being felled.
One person said: “This is a national treasure!!! How can this be allowed?”
Another added: “Noooo not the treenis!”
What is this famous phallic-shaped wood near the M74?
This odd patch of trees is often called the ‘Treenis’ but has earned a host of other nicknames, including the ‘Cock-of-the-North’, ‘Willy Woods’ and ‘Boaby Woods’.
It is said to date back roughly 150 years after being planted around 1870–1874.
The National can confirm that ordnance survey maps dating to between the 1830s and 1880s do feature the unique patch of trees (above).
But why? Well, some theories have suggested it was actually meant to represent the letter T for Tewsgill Hill.
Some online speculation, meanwhile, posits that it was planted to taunt the English crossing the border.
Why is the ‘treenis’ being felled?
The private landowner who owns the woods hasn’t released any statement on the matter.
But it isn’t atypical for a wood to be felled and then replanted.
One Reddit user explained: "It was suffering from wind damage and blowing over. It will get replanted after the felling.
"It was planted as a productive forestry a couple of hundred years ago and has been felled and replanted 3 times already.
"This is just another cycle of the lifespan of the tees as they reach their terminal height."
Another added: "These are timber plantation trees, they were always meant to be felled once they reached their maximum height. They will be replanted."
