This tree, a Beech (Fagus sylvatica) at Garrioch Drive has every right to look unhappy. Like many big trees in Glasgow it succumbed to the storm in January. And like many trees even an expert would have had difficulty in predicting its demise compared to other trees of the same size and species next to it. Apart from a lot of vandalism to the stem the tree looked OK for its age and had no fungi obviously growing from it.
Before the Council took the remaining stem away and let the rootplate fall back onto the ground, you could see that the deeper roots had been degraded, probably by the fungus Meripilus giganteus, and with this support removed the tree’s demise was inevitable.
I am glad I caught this piece of art during it’s month of existence. This sad face makes me smile every time.