Mature trees can adopt the strangest form

Over the lifetime of a tree, events may happen that cause its structure to change drastically (biotic and abiotic events). In this case, such an event has indeed occurred (the top probably was windthrown, or the tree was struck by lightning), and the oak in question has therefore been forced to adopt a far from ideal form. Granted, it’s hardly a death sentence for the tree – it simply doesn’t have the same grace that is so desired from an amenity perspective (so the issue is largely a human one, in place of a biological one). In a way however, perhaps it’s so different that its value is increased; at least, for some onlookers (including me).

About one-sixth of the crown remains, though what is there is of significant size and therefore of marked age – it’s hardly a crown generated through re-sprouting. Clearly, something catastrophic happened to create such a situation.

From the other side, we can see how there is plenty of vascular tissue supporting a partial crown. The lowest branch has also made contact with the ground, which alleviates some of the mechanical loading no doubt acting upon the structure. There’s no reason why this oak won’t be able to live for many decades to come.