Here are our 'drawings to learn' about bark, made during Amber Tree project at Mapspace NY 2019. You can see how the concertina bark opens up as the tree grows. At the end are some photos of other types of bark - more on those soon. Angie Brew

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Hornbeam - with distinctive diamond shape pattern of bark.

How does bark cope with growth of the trunk? 

Bark is like our skin, expanding as we grow.
Each year a new ring of wood (xylem) is laid down within the trunk and each of the branches. This carries water to all parts of the tree. As a result, the tree's girth increases. The outer layer of bark must therefore expand. 
The type of bark varies between species. They have interesting different ways of expanding. Hornbeam is among the species who have bark that concertinas out as the tree grows - like the wrapping sleeves for fruit, with interlocking diamonds. More info soon! I will post some drawings of the different types of bark and how they accommodate growth. 

Angie Brew: I am stuck at home in Watford, England. Anyone want to follow my daily dawn walks? I will share videos of bird song, and images of trees. And drawings of trees and birds. 

Here is 1) dawn photo, Watford 2) An elm with a hole in the trunk 3) and 4) Hornbeam sapling. These are my favourite trees. You can identify them by the jerky angular way the branches grow. Their leaves, just budding now, are similar to Beech. Mature trees have distinctive bark, quite dark, smooth with diamond-like pattern. I will send an image tomorrow.   5) a short video of a Nuthatch singing. You can't see the Nuthatch, but you can learn its song. More birds coming soon!

TtD members and Directors will also be sharing drawings and images in our Facebook group.