Beech

Fagus sylvatica

Beech trees can reach 40m in height and have widely spreading branches. The oval leaves have veins protruding from the edges. The leaves start out yellow-green and turn shiny dark green later in the season. The rich brown leaves of autumn often remain on beech in hedges into the winter. Beech trunks have smooth, silver bark. The mast is a case of four sections which falls from the tree in autumn and opens to allow the seed inside to germinate. Beech seedlings can often be found in large numbers in a beech woodland during the spring. Native to southern England.