Below the trees

Just above the fallen trunk the remnants of a small stone dwelling sink further into the understorey. It was called Dan-y-Coed,  meaning Below the Trees.

The fallen beech, which must have crashed down across the river quite a number of years ago, has adjusted to its horizontal situation by sending up light-seeking shoots to create a leaf canopy that captures the sunlight and nurtures the  living root system and its fungal filaments.

Nearby, another beech has been hijacked by a fungus that has plugged itself directly into the tree's vascular system (extra) and will inexorably kill it in due course. The memento mori sheep skull that was lying on the ground right there  represents another twirl in nature's  dance of life and death. Tamed, owned and used by humankind it nevertheless met its end  out of sight and undiscovered - and in death must have nourished a host of other beasties (birds, mammals, invertebrates, bacteria). 

I used not to think like this all time but now I do. Maybe it's my age or maybe it's the reality that surrounds us.