This large Mountain Ash (1.5 m base) in the Dandenong Ranges was struck by lightning — it’s dead now. The impact caused deep cracks and cavities throughout the base, and what followed was a chain reaction: ⚠️ Spongy rot ⚠️ Fungal decay ⚠️ Insect attacks Once a tree comes under stress, its natural defenses break down — allowing multiple issues to take hold at once. In this case, the damage was too severe: the tree had died and was already dropping massive limbs. We’re now in the process of safely