I balance the despair I feel at humanity's failure to progress beyond mindless destruction with a constant wonder at the millions of other life forms that exist all around us. This photograph shows the base of a hollow, yet very much alive, poplar in Abney. The tree has been completely hollowed out by a bracket fungus (Rigidoporus ulmarius) and even the roots are hollow. Inside the roots other fungi and invertebrates find homes. These beautiful little toadstools are called Mealy Oysters (Ossicaulis lignatilis) and I was amazed to see how they appear almost like lanterns lighting the way into the depths of the old tree's roots. Cracking planet as my mate Chris would say!
If you want to know more about Abney's old trees I'm doing a tree walk on New Year's Day - watch this space for details.