I think I've got a thing about pollards.

It, probably, dates back to a visit manymany moons/years ago to Burnham beeches. They, supposedly, were quite ancient:-
". Famed for its beech and oak pollards – many of which are more than 400 years old – it is also home to a rich variety of fungi, plants and animals." The info they gave us then was that they had been pollarded for wood. When pollarding stopped, the side branches proceeded to form TREES atop the older bases. There was also talk of restarting the process to extend their life further.
I've Blipped some in Penrith off and on since about 2009, there's an update due. As is a shot of some which the farmers in the Vale of St. John appear to use as firewood.