Tree swallowing up object nailed into it

Trees are very adaptable.

I'd be more worried about harming it by taking the nail out, tbh - leaving a "wound" is leaving an opening for disease.

I'm a woodturner, and often find nails or staples embedded inside pieces of wood sometimes many inches below where the bark was. I'd leave it there if I were you for the reason given above.

Chisel around edges a bit, then use pincers, crowbar if needed. Just as the tree will grow around it, it'll also repair the hole left behind

Sure meant to add, protect against infection for a while. The problem with leaving an object like that in a tree is that it could cause a nasty accident for someone down the road if it ever needs to be felled or has been storm damaged and being cleared up. A bench or gate is fairly obvious if you're using a chainsaw, but not small metal objects. That's what I'd be thinking anyway.

LOL Jim, I know what you mean but it could be your son or relative who takes over long after you're six feet down.

One of the tactics used by people wishing to protect trees from clearance is to hammer the likes of six inch nails into them.

I'm all for planting, maintaining and admiring trees but eventually they have a sell by date.

Yes, usually they appear gradually, so you're usually alerted to their presence first by a rapid tick-tick-tick noise, sometimes a few sparks and a glimmer of something shiny before anything major happens. Occasionally a small rusty nail will work it's way loose and you'll catch it but it's usually so rusted it just breaks off.

That's been in that tree longer than since April. It's years old.