Stop attaching lights, Wire, Receptacles, etc… to trees!
We see this all the time. It seems like a good idea at the time. But inevitably the tree will grow around whatever it is and render it useless… or dangerous. Sometimes the natural growth of the tree can cause a short circuit.
Just do the right thing and put a post in the ground.
Based on how much of the pole (it was for a security light) is inside the tree it must have been installed 20 or more years ago, with at least two rewires done probably due to the trees growth destroying the old wires.
If you absolutely must attach something to a tree then do it temporarily and use some form of strap or band that can easily be removed before the tree grows to much.
