Goodbye to a Beloved Beech Tree

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Several weeks ago the Abbey was hit by a strong thunderstorm with very high winds, and a beloved 200+ year old beech tree with a 4½ ft. diameter trunk sustained major damage. On close inspection it became clear that the tree has been rotting from the inside for many years and needed to be completely taken down. This was a special tree with incredible character and presence in the courtyard which abuts two of the monk's dorms. It will be greatly missed. Fr. Simeon is pictured here with two sections of the trunk on the day of the tree's removal.

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