Windy Woods

Oak tree by the railway path West Wickham to Hayes, 29 July 2016.

Oak trees are known for dropping branches unpredictably.  Where they grow near footpaths, site managers usually make sure that any overhanging branches are cut back, and you can see in this photo where that has been done.  But even though it has not been especially windy, a large branch has still torn itself away.

Fallen Oak branch by the railway path West Wickham to Hayes, 29 July 2016.

This is it, just behind the fence.  It might have fallen on or over the fence, or onto the railway just beyond the tree, or onto a train.  Oaks are unpredictable.

Scots Pine blown over by storm Katie at the edge of Woodland Way in Spring Park.  28 March 2016.

Of course, when there are high winds, all trees are susceptible.  This Scots Pine looked strong, but came down across a footpath during Storm Katie. 

Scots Pine blown over by storm Katie at the edge of Woodland Way in Spring Park.  28 March 2016.

The trunk has split.  Close examination showed signs of internal decay, a fungus infection that probably weakened it.

Scots Pine blown over by storm Katie at the edge of Woodland Way in Spring Park.  28 March 2016.

This is the inner face of a piece of one of the splinters, and that whitish substance is fungal mycelium.  Either it has taken advantage of an existing weakness, probably making it worse, or it has caused the weakness in the first place.

Danger during high winds is the reason why woodland walks are cancelled if it is too windy.

Later, I also saw this:

Fallen tree on Hayes Common, 28 April 2016.

Clearly something big has come down on top of the fence, probably also a victim of Storm Katie, and has been partly tidied up.