This single photo was taken during a tree health check in Hall Green and shows the base of a trunk badly broken down by decay. The wood is stringy and splitting, bark is peeling away and fallen rotten pieces sit at the foot. A fence post stands right beside it, so a failure here would affect the boundary.
What decay at the base means
Rot at the base of a trunk takes away the solid wood that holds a tree upright. From the outside a tree can look leafy and fine while the core is hollow, which is why a close inspection matters. Soft, crumbling or fibrous wood, large cavities and lifting bark are all signs worth having looked at properly.
What can be done next
Depending on how far the decay has spread, the choice may be to reduce the tree's weight, take it down in sections, or simply monitor it. We cannot judge that from one photo, and every tree needs its own assessment. Whatever is decided, check with the council for any protection order first, and keep people and structures clear of the area until the tree is dealt with.
