It's not dead - it's just been topped. I once taught a small class Habitat Management and a lad boasted to me how he'd cleared an ancient apple orchard, and grubbed out the roots. Same thing. Why do people just feed the birds in the summer? If anyone wants to get me some of those live shoots, from the portion of the tree on the ground, and post them to me, I'll try my best to get something out of them. Say they're for a tree expert, if anyone says anything, in the field. About a foot long - I get on well with thorns!