Mature Sweet Chestnut Orchard - fungal ID required - weird rooting - and general networking.

Hi
First post on this forum.
I am growing Chestnuts (Sativa) in Kernow, southwest UK. Some of the trees are old (60ish years average) and I'm pollarding them back incrementally to ease management and research pruning vs fruiting response.
Firstly I have had rooting going on behind some partially dead bark on one tree. Not sure if this was caused by root compaction by building up ground next to tree. Has anyone else had similar? [photo attached]
Secondly I now have orange fungi around the base of the stem and not on the ground. It was there probably about this time last year but it went away so I ignored it. I think there is more of it this year. Can anyone suggest an ID? [photos attached]. I can add more pictures if required if you tell me what views you need. I was hoping to add more than 3 photos - all that KB reduction for web in vain!!
I am particularly interested in networking with other sativa growers in the UK especially those dealing with older orchards/pollards. Or if there are any English-speaking experts in France/Spain. Or any who wouldn't mind speaking via translator but some of the technical words are translating strangely as tadpole=pollard in French!!
Thank you.

I know I am not an expert but we do have sweet chestnuts growing in this area in France . Here in Anjou most of the chestnuts are grown for firewood . They are not pollarded but stooled ,the nuts are of an inferior quality I was told as it's not warm nor is the soil good enough here in Anjou for good nut production( heavy clay ) I have never seen any of the fungi you describe .
Are you sure this orchard was for nut production?

David

I'm no expert, only planted my orchard last winter. 25 apple trees, 10 sweet chestnut, numerous crab apples, wild cherry and cherry plum trees. Some willows and walnuts located away from the orchard.
I was very excited about my little field and noticed some fugi growing up in the wood and took photo's to identify it. To my dismay I have a massive area of honey fungus throughout my 2 acres of wood.

I would check that your fungi is not a varient of honey fungus. The description sounds familiar I'm afraid.

There is a massive chestnut wood near me, though the trees are grown for their wood, I have collected the chestnuts for my table.

It is powdermill wood (Battle East Sussex). The owner is Richard Cope. I'll pm you his phone number, I'm sure he is the right person to speak to. Or Ben Law.