A hectare of deciduous woodland produces about five tons of autumn leaves or wood, and much of this refuse is consumed by fungi. Even so, our long cultural association of these remarkable organisms with death or decay seems bizarre. Today a beechwood called Corbar is a perfect spot to ponder the issues.
The most magical part of it is where a recent death occurred. This 150-year-old beech tree was felled and cut into lengths, leaving a linear trench about 50m long, through the canopy and on to the woodland floor, so that sunlight has pooled on its prostrate carcass in unaccustomed abundance.
