Tree with embedded railings.

demicav · #1 (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 07:21 PM

Found this tree the other day and thought it looked rather strange. Just as flesh would grow around an unchecked collar, this tree has grown around the metal railings. It almost looks like some kind of growth, never seen anything like it before although I'm sure other people may have done. Have a look and see what you think. I don't know what will happen if the railings ever need to be removed.

agrumpycow · #2 (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 07:41 PM

I've seen quite a few like this, most recently at Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria.

What intrigues me was that the railings looked younger than the tree, pointing that they railings had been almost built into the tree, although this can't have been the case.
Didn't someone last year post a pic of a tree grown around a bike?

mrs fish · #3 (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 07:43 PM

That is funny

I have seen barbed wire in trees before.

demicav · #4 (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

I've seen quite a few like this, most recently at Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria.

What intrigues me was that the railings looked younger than the tree, pointing that they railings had been almost built into the tree, although this can't have been the case.
Didn't someone last year post a pic of a tree grown around a bike?

Good photo. Amazing how it happens. I'd love to see the pic of the tree that grew around a bike. That would be very strange.

agrumpycow · #5 (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by demicav

Good photo. Amazing how it happens. I'd love to see the pic of the tree that grew around a bike. That would be very strange.

Hopefully someone remembers it and will post it again!

fairplay · #6 (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 08:05 PM

This happens all too often I'm afraid, it is a chainsaw operators nightmare.
When the time comes to eventually fell the tree, I would tell the owner I will cut it above the fence line and leave the large stump to rot or he can pay the extra expense by having a JCB brought in to remove the stump.

I expect the irresponsible owner at the time said 'It's not my problem' knowing he'd be long gone by the time it becomes necessary to fell.

The same happens with nails in the trunk, barbed wire, and even with these galvanised steel rods, which only support the tree guard and are supposed to be removed once the tree is established, by which time usually you can't pull them out, so they are left in, the tree grows around it and in 60-200 plus years when the new owner wants to sell the timber, he will wonder why no-one will touch them. (would be good for invertebrates and fungi though)

Neil.

fairplay · #7 (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 08:36 PM

Just remembered there is an interesting case at RSPB Minsmere. During the war (WW 2) the army were based nearby and Minsmere was used for shell practice, as were lots of other places near the coast, consequently a lot of trees had shrapnel embedded in them and were forgotten about.

Until that is, the storm of '86 came along and blew down a huge amount of mature trees. Minsmere suffered quite badly and when eventually the local sawmill started to take Minsmere's trees they soon had a problem with shattered band saws (imagine the speed of a bandsaw and what will happen when it hits shrapnel - don't stand too close !)

Therefore no-one would touch any more trees and they were left in situ to the benefit of wildlife.

Neil.

fairplay · #8 (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 08:41 PM

This happens all too often I'm afraid, it is a chainsaw operators nightmare.
When the time comes to eventually fell the tree, I would tell the owner I will cut it above the fence line and leave the large stump to rot or he can pay the extra expense by having a JCB brought in to remove the stump.

I expect the irresponsible owner at the time said 'It's not my problem' knowing he'd be long gone by the time it becomes necessary to fell.

The same happens with nails in the trunk, barbed wire, and even with these galvanised steel rods, which only support the tree guard and are supposed to be removed once the tree is established, by which time usually you can't pull them out, so they are left in, the tree grows around it and in 60-200 plus years when the new owner wants to sell the timber, he will wonder why no-one will touch them. (would be good for invertebrates and fungi though)

Neil.