Thanks, Jim. This is some sort of fortification at one end of the dried out moat of the local castle. The main building has undergone major renovation work lasting several years recently and the town council are split about clearing the surrounding trees. The mayor would like to fell quite a few of these so as to make the castle more visible from a distance; he has been using the argument that a forest has swallowed the castle like in a fairytale and it's time to free it. Hopefully a compromise will be found and not too many trees will have to go.