The Loss of an Apple Tree

In the picture above tells a sad tale, I didn't get the tree guard on the same day and the result can be seen clearly.  The poor tree finally gave up the fight and died or should I say almost died.  I still find it difficult to believe that rabbits will do so much damage when there is such an abundance of grass.  As I have said before I think they must be agents of the devil, I can think of no other explanation.  If there was six inches of snow on the ground and all other food was out of reach I could understand it and even forgive such damage but not in these circumstances.  Today two of the destructive creatures have made the move into my slow cooker.  Rabbit for tea tomorrow! 

Back to the poor Sunset apple tree, there was still life in the base of the tree above the graft so all I could think of was to remove the top of the tree below the damage and above the topmost green bud and let nature take its course.  I have placed a length wide plastic drainage pipe around the stump so as to give protection against the remaining rabbits and give room for light to reach the new buds. At best what I will have is a tree that has been set back to the state of a one year maiden tree but with a more developed root system.  But I always have been an optimist.