I'm on the Essex coast in the U.K. and inherited a Gunnera with the house I've just bought. It doesn't look as if the plant was covered in the winter and although there is sign of some new growth from some of the stumps others are either shrunken, solid & brown - very "woody" or are quite "mushy" and equally unhealthy. Can I remove these apparently dead stumps and if so, how?

I've little idea how old the plant is but from what I've found on the net about them I know I'd like to try to keep it if possible and maybe nurse it back to health if I can.

Thanks for any advice you may have..

David.