Tree bark: a study in texture

Regular readers will know that I have a bit of a penchant for "arty" photos. I am always on the lookout for things with interesting colour, form or texture, to use as photo subjects.

The other day, whilst staying with my Mother-in-law, I had the opportunity to photograph a really impressive old tree. I have no idea how old it is, but I'd guess well over two hundred years. It was massive and very gnarled and wrinkly:

This blogpost is one that doesn't need much commentary. The pictures more or less speak for themselves.

The tree had a hollow part, about 7 or 8 feet above ground level. I picture birds nesting in there - or perhaps bats roosting?

There were lots of little holes in the tree, which I took to be the work of Woodpeckers.

The deeply-serrated bark looked like a mountain range in miniature.

This tree was at the side of a road officially called Sandy Lane, but known locally as Keepers. I wonder what scenes it has witnessed. Did it perhaps provide cover once or twice for the poachers who came to steal one of the pheasants looked after by the landlord's game-keepers? Jane tells me that as a young girl she use to sit at the base of this tree with one of her friends, checking off all the plants she had seen in her "I-Spy" book. Judging by the presence of a number of empty beer tins I rather fear that these days it is more likely that the grand old tree must more often have to witness the antics of teenage boys conducting their first undignified experiments with alcohol!

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P.S. Nothing to do with tree bark, but I want to show it to you anyway... Saw my first Harlequin Ladybird larva of the year on Saturday: