Oxfordshire Woodland Group

In Tom Wessells' book - "Reading the Forested Landscape" he explains how many trees in New England are found growing on top of a small mound. The accepted explanation for this phenomenon is that, following the blow down of trees, the upturned rootball provides an area of mineral soil into which tree seed will germinate in preference to those that land on the forest duff covering the woodland floor which can cause the seed to rot or be predated by small mammals.

I noted this natural occurence on the upturned root ball of a fallen birch tree in a dark Chilterns woodland where light levels were generally very low underneath the closed woodland canopy.

It seems that Mr Wessells observation is probably correct and I now wonder whether anyone else has seen this form of natural regeneration and hopefully be able to provide a photo of a full grown tree standing on a mound.

Chilterns