In our deep dives in the Sonian Forest habitat (Foret de Soignes, near Brussels, BE) as part of our art research for <symbio-bodies: cryptogams>, we often encountered these majestic, somptuos arches of dried entangled roots, chunks of soil, rocks and dead matter. If you faced them directly, they resembled huge altars, sometimes reaching 2m in height and a few in length. In front of them – some cm deep round-shaped pit, to remind the forest floor of the wound. Once you changed perspective, the altar became a portal: on the other side of the once-in-the-ground structure – life was thrilling: moss, mushrooms of all sorts, vines contorting. Dozens of fallen trees in various sizes and in random spots in the forest.

Death and decay are but just 1/2 of the story…

They are called Nurse Logs. Fallen, decaying trees that provide water, nutrients, and a safe growing space for other lives of the forest, including new plant seedlings. They shape forests, over and underground, Some say their ecological benefits to the forest ecosystem are actually greater than in living, vertical, healthy trees. For one, they are a source of essential nutrients: as fungi and bacteria break down the wood, the log releases nitrogen and phosphorus. They do moisture retention: thick layers of moss and spongy decaying wood trap water during dry spells. They shield from pathogens by elevating seeds above the forest floor and thus protecting young saplings from harmful soil fungi. Moreover, the initial gap left by the fallen tree opens the forest canopy, giving growing plants more sunlight. But, most fascinatingly for us, they are actual seedbeds: species like hemlocks, spruces, and yellow birches frequently rely on rotting wood to germinate because they cannot easily pierce thick forest floor litter. For these reasons, they are considered forest regenerators and healers.

This was our small offering: