Ben Williams
Newbie
Has anyone got any ideas about what might be ailing this beech? It hasn't come into leaf fully this year but on inspection in the spring there were no signs of deadwood or decay in the crown or anywhere on the stem. I could see some small isolated branches lower dow which have come into leaf and died off this summer which suggests they have been girdled quite recently. Whatever has happened to it has happened very quickly. Had a good look around the base and I found some fungus that I've identified as Lacrymaria lacrymabunda which are not parasitic, no signs of any other bracket fungus or old fruiting bodies. Nothing else in its habitat seems to have changed i.e. soil levels/root damage and its in a row of about 8 other very healthy beech trees. Does anyone have any ideas?