Beech, Fagus sylvaticaThere are many cultivars, including leaf shape and colour variants, pendulous and fastigiate forms. Sources of seed and plants Very widely planted throughout Britain, beech reaches its best development in England south of the Cleveland Hills. It also grows well in north-east England and eastern Scotland. Beech must be collected from stands recorded in the National Register of Seed Sources under EEC rules. Silviculture A strong shade bearer, it is often grown in mixture with ash, birch, gean, the oaks, sycamore, Wych elm, Scots pine and larch. Soil types Grows best on light, well-drained soils over chalk or limestone but also succeeds on deep acid brown earths and deep sandy soils. Does not. tolerate cold, wet or poorly drained soils or infertile, dry sands. Rate of growth and yield Young trees grow slowly at first, but after 20 to 30 years beech begins to overtake many other native broadleaves. Plants of good provenance have straight persistent stems and in well-tended woodlands the stems are straight and cylindrical. A long-lived tree, remaining healthy for up to 200 years, beech maintains its growth increment for 100 to 120 years. It commonly attains heights of 30 metres with stem diameters of 120 cms and clear boles of 10 to 15 metres. Protection and resistance Cryptococcus fagi, the felted beech coccus, can appear at all ages. Among diseases, Nectria ditissima is the most important. Late spring frosts damage leaves and flowers and can kill young trees. Beech trees of all ages are sensitive- to drought. It is very susceptible to damage by grey squirrels which can ruin pole-stage plantations, but red deer, hares, rabbits and mice also peel the bark. Beech is resistant to exposure, is a valuable shelter tree and makes an excellent hedge. Establishing and tending All common sizes of planting stock establish well. Beech does not coppice in Britain. Can be grown with a nurse of birch, Norway maple, Scots pine or larch, especially on chalk downland. Timber properties A diffuse porous timber with fine, even texture, whitish to very pale brown in colour, darkening on exposure to slightly reddish brown. The sapwood is not distinguishable from the heartwood. Usually straight grained. One of the strongest timbers grown in Britain (average 720 kg/m' at 12I MC) beech kiln-dries fairly well but tends to split, distort and shrink. Clear timber is exceptionally good for bending, good for turning, and satisfactory for staining and polishing. The heartwood is perishable but permeable to preservatives. Amenity value The young foliage in May is particularly beautiful, the autumn colour can be dramatic and mature beech woods are ideal for public access and recreation. Conservation Beech mast is relished as food by pigeons, pheasants, deer, squirrels and mice. Timber value The largest consumer is the furniture industry for cabinet work, chairs, school desks. Also for joinery, turnery, flooring and plywood. Beech wood flour is saleable and beech is good for firewood and charcoal. Economic appraisal Beech should not be confined to lowland sites and grows well on fertile upland sites. It remains the most commonly planted broadleaf tree and the most used timber. When grown in association with ash, gean and oak valuable woodlands result. When a stem diameter of 45 cms is taken as being marketable for most purposes beech can be grown on rotations of 80 to 100 years. |
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