gbw - regenerating trees

Natural regeneration of woodland, most of these trees are "sweet chestnut" (the edible variety - Castanea sativa ) that suffered damage during windstorms, such as the one during mid-October 1987. Damage in this particular woodland ranged from fatal uprooting to broken branches and semi-uprooted trunks.
(1 of 4 related images)

During the Great Storm of 1987, the southern half of England was subject to record breaking wind speeds and suffered extensive damage. (22 people died in the UK and France, several sizable ships had problems - one ferry was driven ashore at Folkestone)

The National Trust, and other landowners, decided to compromise on clean-up efforts, and used the disaster to study how the natural regeneration processes developed, especially in woodlands that could be 'left to their own devices', as they did not require excessive work on safety grounds, unlike urban areas.

more info here --- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Storm_of_1987