Silver Surfers of the Forest

One of the feeds that keeps coming up on my facebook is 'Silver Surfers' . I must suppose that the web has keyed into my white locks.  These trees are surfing sunlight on a board of rooted mycelium rather than the  web but they are definitely elderly, hale and still bear the glints of silver in their bark.
Birches have always been one of my favourite trees, especially in autumn with their grey-white bark and golden leaves. They are known as being one of the first to colonise open and disturbed  ground. They grow quickly but don't have a reputation for living to a grand old age. Rot and birch bracket fungus generally fell them. 
This one though isn't succumbing. It is growing by a forest gate at High Stand and when I'm there I try to have my picnic sitting in the van next to it just so I can admire its indented textured lower trunk and the way the moss grows up its wettest side. It gives a visual zest to the crunch of oat-cakes in my mouth. and shows that wrinkles can indicate strength. 
It's good to have a very positive companion for a working lunch.