The queen of British trees. A generous tree with a leafy canopy and cathedral-like branches. Home to an abundance of rare wildlife. Beech woodland provides an important habitat for many butterflies. Its foliage feeds the caterpillars of several rare moths while the seeds are eaten by mice, voles, squirrels and birds.
In Celtic mythology, Fagus was the god of beech trees. The tree was thought to have medicinal properties and its leaves were boiled to make a poultice which was used to relieve swellings. Forked beech twigs are also traditionally used for divining.
Beech wood with its strength and rich colour has for centuries been used for furniture making especially chair seats.
Recently Beech woodlands have been at the forefront of studies to understand the world of communication between woodland trees.