NATURE
Life’s A Beech
T
he beech tree obtained its genus, Fagus, from Celtic mythology. It’s known as the Queen of British trees and shares a long association with femininity. Beech arrived on these shores after the last ice age and is now recorded as a native tree in the south of England, while further north it’s still viewed as something of an intruder. With smooth bark, tinctured grey, the mature beech is majestic. In established woodland the dense canopy restricts light penetration, often leading to a lack of greenery at ground level – and yet beech woodland where it’s often dry underfoot and
There’s something life affirming about being in the presence of a majestic tree, pondering an arboreal lifetime and what happened within it; so we asked Robert Veitch to find out a few facts about beech trees… and then search for a tall one carpeted in layers of crisp decaying leaves is an utter delight to wander through. Beech bark is thin and easily cut, as anyone who has ever carved hearts containing initials into a beech trunk will know. But the bark won’t heal and the scars will remain, so don’t do it! Beech leaves emerge in spring, oval shaped and lime green with fine hairs along the edge. They darken over the summer, before evolving into the glorious yellow, amber and orange hues of autumn. A beech becomes a veteran between 125 – 200 years, after which it becomes ancient. Some have been known to reach 400 years of age. Beech makes an excellent hedge. Keep it well manicured in the autumn and it won’t shed leaves until the following spring when new
Newtimber Holt
September 2021 | SUSSEX LIVING 99
