A glorious oak pollard with an added extra

Again one from today (Ancient Tree Forum meet at The Warren, Epping Forest), though this time the ‘main’ focus is the tree. In the below image, we can see a very large oak that has been historically pollarded, though such management has since lapsed (the last time it was pollarded was prior to 1830). We can see at least five stems that remain, with a sixth being lost some years ago (as shown by the large tear-out). On this tear-out, we can also see what appears to be the remnants of a Laetiporus sulphureus (the white mass). I couldn’t get close enough to give a definitive identification, though I strongly suspect it is indeed this fungus (which we know may often fruit upon a wound surface).

A very hefty oak pollard, complete with at least one tear-out.

In that tear-out, we have what looks like the remains of a Laetiporus sulphureus sporophore. If it is then that’s hardly surprising, as I have seen this fungus produce a sporophore on an open wound in many an instance.