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 ;)
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 ;)