91. Merridale Monument
I've published ninety one tree posts, but I can hardly believe this is the first hornbeam. It’s one of Wolverhampton’s finest trees.
Like many Victorian cemeteries, Merridale has some captivating trees. The finest is a very old hornbeam near the Jeffcock Road entrance. The cemetery opened in 1850, but the tree appears to be rather older. Mature trees like this hornbeam were often retained in newly constructed nineteenth-century cemeteries and parks, a practice we should emulate in the twenty-first century.
Species details
Hornbeam
Carpinus betulus
Where to find it
Merridale Cemetery, Jeffcock Road, Wolverhampton WV3 7AA
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Hornbeam notes
Although hornbeams are one of England’s most handsome trees, they tend to play second fiddle to species like oak, ash and beech. Perhaps this is because they are only native to the south east of England, but then again the native range of beech – a common tree all over Britain and Ireland – is often cited as being restricted to southern Britain. Perhaps because hornbeams don’t grow as large as those more frequent species, it has been passed over in parks and gardens. But, it is one of the most beautiful trees, and can become very large. In some ancient woodlands in the ‘hornbeam belt’ around Sussex, Kent, Essex and (for those who don’t live here, yes, really) London, it can become particularly large and abundant.
At first glance, the leaves of hornbeam may be confused with those of a beech, but they are crinklier, and have fine teeth around their edge. The bark too is similar: steely grey, but as hornbeams age, the bark tends to faintly fissure giving it a sinewy, muscular look. The name hornbeam is an olde English one, and is analogous to ‘hard wood’, a description of its dense creamy wood which was ideal for making charcoal with.
Sussex tree news
A reminder that I will be talking about street trees in Hove on 21st February for the Hove Civic Society. Do come along, all are welcome and it’s free!
Join me at: Ralli Hall, 81 Denmark Villas, Hove BN3 3TH – it’s less than 100 metres from Hove station.
And if that were not enough, Brighton and Hove news, CPRE Sussex has launched the inaugural ‘I love this tree because…’ photographic competition recording trees in the city. Find out how to enter here.
Hornbeam was a new species to me, a northerner, when I went to Hainault, Epping and Hatfield Forests for research and became very familiar with their wonders as ancient pollards, long uncut and sadly vulnerable to the severe gales of 1987 and 1992 which toppled many, and as hedges. Widely varied and characterful trees, it’s good to see one featured.
As you say, beech’s range is far greater than supposed, and with climate change maybe it’s time to encourage the neglected spread of hornbeam northwards ;)