Trees in marshy places around empty house (7)
I believe the answer is:
sheoaks
'house' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't tell whether it can be defined by this definition.
'trees in marshy places around empty' is the wordplay.
'trees' becomes 'oak'.
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'marshy places' becomes 'shs' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'around' is an insertion indicator.
'empty' becomes 'E' (abbreviation e.g. on guages).
'shs' going around 'e' is 'shes'.
'oak' inserted inside 'shes' is 'SHEOAKS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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