Roudsea Woods

I've stood here before and admired the unusual yew growths. Today C here had the guide to the woods on her phone that gives the narrative at the numbered points. 
She is reading:- "These truly ancient small-leaved lime, elm and yew trees are a testament to the thousands of years these woodlands have taken to develop. This giant small-leaved lime hangs from the limestone crag as if hovering in mid-air while other ancient trees seem to flow out of the solid rocks along the edge of the path". 

And now follows the narrative for the tiny leaves on the bark of the linked blip. :-  "This old yew tree shows the presence of deer in the woodland. Yews sometimes grow small leafy ‘epicormic’ stems across their bark and here these have been grazed by passing deer to create a ‘yew lawn’ effect. Other yew trees in the area have a pronounced ‘browse line’, with their lower branches having been nibbled away by hungry deer"

And now of course  I've looked up Epicormic on Google :- "Epicormic growth is a plant response to damage or stress. It is the growth of new shoots from epicormic buds that lie dormant beneath the bark. .Plants which respond in this way are often referred to as re-sprouters."

You learn something every day. 

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