I look at Ronan in surprise as his tone becomes more serious and he shrugs his shoulders.
‘Back in the sixties some experts believed that many of the trees at Versailles had been allowed to grow too tall, both for their root systems and the drained swampland area on which a lot of the park was established, to be able to support. Others saw it as doom-mongering, predicting a mass loss of trees being blown over in strong winds. A bid to grab more of the budget, let’s say. The internal politics threw up general conflict as departments fought to grab as much funding as they could. The truth is that management didn’t always get their priorities right and sometimes tough decisions had to be made.’
‘But surely, the gardens have always been a major part of the attractions at Versailles?’ I ask, rather surprised at his words.
‘They are, but the building had fallen into disrepair and things like holes in the roof had top priority; much of the privately donated funding went to things like the statuary in the grounds and keeping the fountains working.
‘One of the gardeners put forward a theory that the high water table associated with the boggy land resulted in the root systems growing very close to the surface. That, he proposed, was the inherent danger for the future as the trees aged, and that’s what I think the tree survey project set about to prove for the first time. By looking in detail at the pattern of tree loss over the previous twenty years, it was hoping to trigger urgent action with regard to a major replanting programme.’
Ronan is very knowledgeable, and I’m impressed.
‘I’m sure everyone was aware the solution wasn’t going to be a simple one. If the money had been there, I assume it would have been a totally different story and the scheme would have had backing. I bet it was a bitter blow to those involved, though.’
His expression is one of exasperation.
‘What was the point of wasting what little money was available, when from the outset no one was going to listen? That was the travesty.’
‘Do you think my grandma could have been involved in this tree survey?’ I’m a little taken aback at his in-depth knowledge. He knows his stuff, that’s for sure.
‘Possibly. It’s all common knowledge, of course,’ he adds quickly. ‘No secrets being divulged here. Although it’s a pity those early rumblings in the sixties were pushed to one side. Maybe some of the very old trees that should have gone on to stand for a long, long time could have withstood the storms. In tandem with a replanting programme, one proposal was to drill holes and inject nutrients into the ground to encourage the roots to go deeper. Whether that would have worked is anyone’s guess.’
It’s a sobering thought and I feel sad to think of what has been lost
‘It will take several lifetimes for the park to be returned to anything like its former glory. In 1990, so many trees were lost in the first of two devastating storms which hit the park, that a restoration project was finally developed by a committee of experts. It was agreed that somehow the funds would be raised, because there was an outpouring from people around the world who wanted to help when they saw photographs on the news of the damage. At the time, no one could have predicted the further, colossal damage to come in December 1999. Over eighty per cent of the oldest, more rare species were destroyed in a two hour frenzy of tornado-strength winds.’
No wonder feelings ran high in the sixties, when there were those who foresaw how devastating the delay would be for the future of the landscape. If Versailles inspires anything in people, I’m starting to understand it’s a passion for the beauty that was created at such enormous expense.
‘I can’t imagine what it’s like to see a huge tree toppled overnight,’ I admit. ‘But I suppose it’s a case of prioritising when there’s also the fabric of the building to consider. That’s such a difficult choice to make, though.’
Ronan gives a wry smile. ‘The Sun King would simply have raised taxes when his coffers ran low.’
And look at how that ended, I can’t help thinking, as he continues.
‘The park is a lot less private these days, having lost so many of the tallest trees – some in excess of one hundred and twenty feet tall. We’re mainly talking about some of the apartment buildings bordering the furthest extremes of the park’s perimeter, though.’
He realises I’m looking at him with what is, no doubt, a look of fascination on my face.
‘Sorry, it’s one of my pet topics and that sounded a bit like a lecture.’
‘No, it’s interesting, really it is, and something that has never even crossed my mind. I can imagine how excited my grandma Viv would have found all of this. And as a passionate gardener herself, I know how strongly she would have felt about forward planning. A tree or a hedge takes a long time to grow and when something is lost overnight, suddenly the view changes quite dramatically. To my grandma the garden was an outdoor room and she always said that it required as much attention and dedication as anything inside the house.’
Ronan groans. ‘Now I’ve made you maudlin and that wasn’t my intention at all. Enough of this. Leave it with me and I’ll let you know what I discover, if anything at all.’
It seems like a natural time to say goodnight and head home.
‘Supper was delicious,’ I compliment him as I stand, sliding the chair beneath the table. ‘I’ll invite you back very soon, but I don’t think I can beat that, so I don’t want you to set your expectations too high.’
We exchange a good-natured laugh. ‘I confess the dishes in my repertoire are rather limited, but I cook what I know and leave the clever stuff to people with the right skills. It’s been a nice evening, though, and thanks for the company.’
I feel myself blushing slightly as Ronan stands opposite me. I wasn’t expecting him to be so open and honest with me, even if he didn’t elaborate more on what happened with his father. As we get to know each other a little better I wonder if he will take me into his confidence. It’s often easier to talk to someone you hardly know than those you are close to. Especially when that someone is only passing through. Ronan is turning out to be a man whose thoughts run deep and I like that.
6
A Surprising Turn of Events
After several very intense days of preparation and two meetings with Elliot, our sound man, Cameron, and Ronan, we’re all counting down to the first interview. It turns out that Ronan’s YouTube channel contains footage of a walking tour of various areas of the park and gardens around the palace. Together we watched a few of his downloads, as they were useful background information.
‘Your camera work is good.’ Elliot was full of praise. ‘It’s not easy to film and commentate at the same time.’
Both Elliot and I were intrigued to discover that Ronan’s father owns a film production company. Ronan spent a number of years working for him behind the camera and then behind the scenes, as an editor. The company specialises in high-end animation and visual effects, as well as making video trailers. Being multilingual, as well as good with a camera, Ronan must have been a real asset. No wonder his father came back into his life, although I hope it wasn’t just to use him. Ronan still hasn’t mentioned the reason why he left the company, and I daren’t ask, although my curiosity grows by the day over their falling-out. Business and family aren’t always a good mix and the irony is that he’ll probably understand the situation between me and Jake.