It's not unusual for fallen trees to regenerate - not a lot different from coppicing after all.
Yes, fallen giants are wonders ... apart from any regrowth they might make themselves, they support so many other organisms. Not just the ones you've mentioned but those living and growing
within the fallen trunk.
It's only over the last few decades that fallen "over-mature" (as some people refer to them
) trees have been left to rot down (or whatever) by woodland managers .... for many years, particularly in the middle of the last century, they were dragged off, sawn up and burned!
Doing that, of course, killed all the beetles and fungi living within the wood and removed the excellent habitat that you've captured.
Still, hopefully things are done better now although I note that some "sporting" woods are pretty low on deadwood ....
Quote:
Originally Posted by goosey
This oak looks as if it fell quite a while back. The broken trunk looks weathered and not at all fresh. It is still so alive! It's foliage is changing colours, mosses, lichens and fungi are growing on it as well as the leaves. It was seen 27 -10-2007. I think I will see if I can get back and see if the leaves have turned any more.
But can it be alive?
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