Life in the old tree yet
From a little way off, there is nothing remarkable about this rotting tree stump. Gently melded into the bank, it's a bulging lump with a toupee of moss. But look closer and there is so much life here. Feather mosses overhang in a protective cornice, shielding the interior from rain. Wood sorrel is spreading by slender rhizomes through the spongy green topping, leaves folded back like little tents from the frost. They have the lemon sharpness of oxalic acid, making them popular with those who forage for woodland salad.
The mossy covering supports other plants too. There are whippy stems of wild raspberry. They are thin and wiry now, but as the tree stump decays they will gain in strength. There are lacy seedlings of herb robert, which give off a mousy smell as I brush against them.
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