This is the lower trunk of a magnificent oak-tree in the middle of a field left fallow for many years. Mrs S posted a picture of this tree in March - https://365project.org/s4sayer/365/2020-03-23 - showing how it had become completely infested and overrun with ivy. Recently, the farmer who farms the land around Vignouse acquired the field and reclaimed it. I expected him to severly prune the oak knowing that it would soon die anyway. I was delighted that in fact he severed all the ivy stems and cut most of the ivy foliage to allow the tree to breathe again... and it's looking good again already.
I spent last weekend doing exactly this to a magnificent beech tree outside our house. Trouble is it just regrows and you have to chop it back regularly. I can't find a way of killing the ivy roots without damaging the tree roots!
A wonderful tree that merits a long life.