The leaves are the most sensitive organs of trees, but the bark is also very sensitive, flowing with tree-blood underneath, just like skin

Japanese weeping cheery tree loosing bark

Two things spring to my mind Smoken...either it has suffered some form of trauma from being hit with something or...have you had a hard and very cold winter?

This form of bark splitting can often occur when a severe frost actually freezes the sap that is below the cambium layer. The bark then splits and lifts.Just like a water pipe.

We have actually had to nail apple tree bark back to allow it to heal. It's amazing how much damage a tree will take and still recover. 

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