The roots of this Beech tree are intertwining in their search for food and nutrients. The ground around it is bare of vegetation because in Summer the leaf canopy of Beech trees is so thick that very little light will penetrate it, preventing anything other than shade specialist plants from growing.
Uploaded to Geograph by Seo Mise on 20 April 2011
Photo © Seo Mise, 20 April 2011. Licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons licence