You chose papyrus too, I think that was the most damning.

I'd still wager that is why it didn't win any prizes though. They don't want to show a video spraying WD40 in nature.

I enjoyed the post, I appreciate a good methodical process.

Well there is the water table too. But that said weed killer is poured all over everywhere

"dead" stumps provide an essential home to insects, plants, lichen, fungi and other stuff. Rotting wood is essential for a healthy ecosystem. These days it is not seen as unwanted, dead or waste material from a tree but part of a life cycle. It is a living habitat.

So the judges may have seen something different rather than protecting, preserving and prioritising your family and the joyful and creative structures for children's play. At the very least it would give ambiguity in today's more ecological minded world.