The Beech Tree

 Other names for the Beech tree are Faggio. Fagus and Bog.

It is often found growing besides hedgerows and in chalky soils. One of our tallest native trees it can reach 40 metres (130 foot) and bears a dome shaped crown and smooth grey bark. In spring the leaves are lime green darkening with the progression of the year and becoming copper in the autumn.

 Male and female flowers grow on the same tree followed by catkins which will produce beech nuts in the autumn.A tall but shallow rooted tree susceptible to damage from stormy weather. Many were lost in the Great Storm of 1987 in Britain. 

The word 'book' is derived from the Anglo Saxon word 'boec' as in Saxon times the soft bark was used as rudimentary book.Because the bark is easy to carve it has long been a favourite tree for lovers to carve their initials onto. Some tree graffitti is centuries old !

It has many uses being used for furniture, ship keels and allegedly part of the foundations of Winchester Cathedral. Winchester being on peaty marshland. The wood burns well and is traditionally used to smoke kippers and beechnuts can be roasted as a coffee substitute.

In herbal medicine the leaves can be boiled and made into a poultice to relieve swellings.

The Celts called it the 'tree of wishes'. A fallen branch was regarded as an invitation from the faery world. If you wrote you wish upon it and pushed it underground, it would be taken to the Underworld for the attention of the Faery Queen.

Considered nurturing and protective, travellers could sleep safely underneath a beech tree although you were advised not to swear beneath one lest it drop a branch upon you !