Life on a Tree Stump

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 I walked past this tree stump in the lane this week and was struck by the amount of life on it.


The tree was probably only cut down about three years ago and already there are mosses, fungi, lichens, ivy and even a thistle growing on it. I am probably sensitised to things rotting down because I am in the middle of reading a book about fungi called "Entangled Life" by the wonderfully named Merlin Sheldrake which is aimed at the non specialist and is a fascinating read. I think the fungi above are from the genus Flammulina.  I strongly recommend Sheldrakes book for anybody who wants some interesting reading over Christmas.

Diary
I read in the paper this week that there is a project to reintroduce the European bison into the wild in England! Guardian Article. I look forward to seeing how that works! I must say that having seen bison in Yellowstone park I reckon they will need a lot of space! Its milder again! 8C today and calmer.


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