Beech

Beech includes the common beech (Fagus sylvatica) and the copper or purple beech (Fagus sylvatica f. purpurea). Where the species is unknown the tree is recorded simply as beech.

Distribution

Throughout the UK and found everywhere other than very wet areas.

Typical location

Parkland, designed landscapes, fields, woodland and wood pasture. Occasionally avenues, street trees, gardens and occasionally as overgrown hedges.

Age

Beech may live for 350 years (if managed as a pollard), although 225 may be more typical on many sites.

Beech may be considered chronologically ancient from 200 years onwards, although many have ancient characteristics from around 150 years.

A veteran beech must be mature and have visible and significant decay features, regardless of its size.

A notable beech must be mature, generally large for its species, a significant tree within the local landscape, or be of historical or cultural importance.

Size

Beech can grow up to 6m plus in girth.

Record all mature beech with significant decay regardless of its size.

It’s important to rely on characteristics rather than size, which is an unreliable indication of age. Most chronologically ancient beech are greater than 4.5m in girth, but if grown in woodland, avenues and hedges, or have been previously managed as a pollard, they may be no more than 2.5m in girth.

Ancient characteristics

• Girth is large
• Major trunk cavities or progressive hollowing
• Decay holes
• Physical damage to trunk
• Bark loss
• Large quantities of dead wood in the canopy
• Crevices in the bark, under branches or on the root plate, sheltered from direct rainfall
• Fungal fruiting bodies (from heart rotting species)
• A high number of interdependent wildlife species
• Epiphytic plants

In addition the tree may have:

• A pollard form or show indications of past management
• Outgrown from an old hedge
• Cultural or historic value
• A prominent position in the landscape