What is this?

[Ashes_Firewood]

What is this at the bottom of some Ash trees? Is it just part of the root system that's grown above ground? I'm assuming its solid wood in there. Any value or use for it?

 

Thanks

 

 

 

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[danroker1987]

It's the ball bag!! Just looks like some sort of growth or graft

 

 

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[farmer rod]

I think its called the stool, where the tree has been coppiced for generations. Ash seems to often be left higher than chestnut, I dont know the reason for this but it may make it less convenient for rabbits to chew the new shoots.

[Ashes_Firewood]

so just rip it out and get rid like you would if it were any other stump basically. There's another nearby but nothing growing out of that one

[ScottF]

You see this loads on ash trees which have been witin nibbling distance of stnce. I think it's just years and years of suckers growing out from damaged bark being nibbled back. I'd agree with Rod above that this one probably started off as a coppice, but it's animal browsign that's keeping it like this.

 

Whenever I've cut into these there tends to be some interesting burr-like undifferentiated growth, but generally lots of decay, too.

[frets1]

if its not rotten in the middle a wood turner might want cubes or lumps??

or sick it on a big bonfire!!

there must be some interesting grain in there.

[Ashes_Firewood]

I did wonder if it might have some interest for milling/wood turning. Do you think it's worth cutting a portion off one side or the top to find out what it looks like once I've taken the other ash off it? I'm guessing it'll be very hard dense wood to cut through.

 

Thanks for all the replies so far