Felled oak tree is regrowing
AN OLD oak tree that fell in a storm back in December 2021 is still alive and regrowing.
The tree, opposite Fairfield in a field on Rue des Touillets in Castel, is said to be growing shoots due to an emergency response to it being blown down – called epicormic growth.
‘Even though it has blown over, there must still be part of the root system which is functioning and connected to the stem or trunk and branches,’ said Andy McCutcheon, acting secretary for Guernsey Trees for Life.
‘So part of the “plumbing” system of the tree – made up of xylem and phloem vessels which carry water and sugars respectively – is still able to sustain growth.’
Mr McCutcheon said that this was a common occurrence in nature.
‘Contained deep within the stem and larger branches of trees like oaks are dormant buds which are triggered into growth in the event that a tree is severely damaged.
‘Assuming that the tree does not succumb to other maladies such as disease, pest or drought, these epicormic shoots will continue to grow and may eventually produce a line of new trees.
‘There is an example of one in or adjacent to the Silbe Nature Reserve, where an English oak fell over several years ago, and it has now become a line of several new oak trees.’
