Oak Trees

I like this path on the edge of the common because it is largely undisturbed and little used. Most of the trees are oaks. Because they are close together they have to compete for the light in the canopy above. Some of the lower branches near to the ground are dead but the rest of the tree appears healthy. Looking at several of the trees it is apparent that as the tree grows it sheds lower branches that are starved of light. These slowly rot and eventually drop or are blown down leaving a scar that naturally heals to protect the inside of the tree. On a farm or in parkland these dead branches would probably be cut off because of the risk they might fall and cause injury, and as visually they look unattractive. Here the process is allowed to take its natural course