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Young Beech Leaves

Beech

In the UK, common beech is only considered truly native to south-east England and south-east Wales.

Beech trees belong to family Fagaceae, making them related to sweet chestnuts and oaks. They grow woods or as single trees and are most happy on drier, free-draining soils, such as chalk, limestone and light loams. It is in these conditions that you will be able to see the full majesty of this beautiful tree. Indeed, few who have ever experienced walking through an ancient Beechwood in bluebell time will be left unchanged by the experience.

Notoriously shallow rooted, this accounts for their devastating loss during the storm of 1987. Worringly, a recently published paper notes that beech, spruce and pine are the species most affected by climate change and increasing periods of drought in European woodlands.

There is some discrepancy, but generally the common beech is thought to have arrived in the British Isles around 6000 years ago. It may even have been brought here by the first people to colonise these islands after the last Ice Age, so in terms of native tree species, quite a latecomer! Along with other deciduous broadleaved trees, they tend to be late arrivals in ecological succession. This means that there are no mature examples on the shallow, acidic soils of Barnes Common. However, a few young self-seeded saplings sheltering beneath the oaks can be spotted by those with a keen eye, along with a slightly larger tree near Scarth Road.

Young, freshly unfurled leaves are edible, their sorrel-like tartness making a welcome addition to early season salads. Beech nuts are an important food source for wild animals.  Like most trees the quantity of nuts varies, with some exceptional mast years ensuring enough survive to germinate, since beech grows well from seed.  Beech wood does not last long outdoors but is good for furniture and other indoor uses. It lasts well under water, and has been used for piling, including under Winchester Cathedral and the old Waterloo Bridge.

In recent years, a Copper Beech (F sylvatica f. purpurea) was planted ‘in memoriam’ on the Common on Maisie’s Meadow. Unauthorised planting of inappropriate species can affect local habitat and the vigour of something planted in a place it will struggle to thrive. Therefore we always ask people to get in touch before considering any ‘guerilla’ planting, however well-meaning.

An interesting feature of beech is that, although deciduous, when clipped as a hedge, the dried leaves remain throughout winter, making it a good choice for garden hedging, as well as easy to identify all year.

M Hildesley; S Morgan. Images A Wilson unless stated. 19th July 2020. Updated June 2021.

Bluebells in ancient woodland
Bluebells in ancient Dorset woodland. Image: Sharon Morgan May 2021

Beech

Young Beech Leaves

In the UK, common beech is only considered truly native to south-east England and south-east Wales.

Beech trees belong to family Fagaceae, making them related to sweet chestnuts and oaks. They grow woods or as single trees and are most happy on drier, free-draining soils, such as chalk, limestone and light loams. It is in these conditions that you will be able to see the full majesty of this beautiful tree. Indeed, few who have ever experienced walking through an ancient Beechwood in bluebell time will be left unchanged by the experience.

Notoriously shallow rooted, this accounts for their devastating loss during the storm of 1987. Worringly, a recently published paper notes that beech, spruce and pine are the species most affected by climate change and increasing periods of drought in European woodlands.

There is some discrepancy, but generally the common beech is thought to have arrived in the British Isles around 6000 years ago. It may even have been brought here by the first people to colonise these islands after the last Ice Age, so in terms of native tree species, quite a latecomer! Along with other deciduous broadleaved trees, they tend to be late arrivals in ecological succession. This means that there are no mature examples on the shallow, acidic soils of Barnes Common. However, a few young self-seeded saplings sheltering beneath the oaks can be spotted by those with a keen eye, along with a slightly larger tree near Scarth Road.

Young, freshly unfurled leaves are edible, their sorrel-like tartness making a welcome addition to early season salads. Beech nuts are an important food source for wild animals.  Like most trees the quantity of nuts varies, with some exceptional mast years ensuring enough survive to germinate, since beech grows well from seed.  Beech wood does not last long outdoors but is good for furniture and other indoor uses. It lasts well under water, and has been used for piling, including under Winchester Cathedral and the old Waterloo Bridge.

In recent years, a Copper Beech (F sylvatica f. purpurea) was planted ‘in memoriam’ on the Common on Maisie’s Meadow. Unauthorised planting of inappropriate species can affect local habitat and the vigour of something planted in a place it will struggle to thrive. Therefore we always ask people to get in touch before considering any ‘guerilla’ planting, however well-meaning.

An interesting feature of beech is that, although deciduous, when clipped as a hedge, the dried leaves remain throughout winter, making it a good choice for garden hedging, as well as easy to identify all year.

M Hildesley; S Morgan. Images A Wilson unless stated. 19th July 2020. Updated June 2021.

Bluebells in ancient woodland
Bluebells in ancient Dorset woodland. Image: Sharon Morgan May 2021

Related links

‘Common’ Trees

Habitat Management

Conservation Work