NEN Gallery

A beautiful tree with an enormous spreading crown when mature (as in this picture), often branching almost horizontally. Trees especially young trees and hedges retain their leaves in winter. Picture taken at Elstow, Bedfordshire - mid February 2006. The Beech tree is native to southern England. It has oval leaves which are yellow green when young quickly turning a shiny green. In Autumn they become a rich orange brown. The trunk of the beech tree is smooth and grey in colour The twigs of the beech tree are brown, slightly bendy and have very characteristic narrow pointed buds. It is used for making furniture and is often found in forests with oak. Many ormanemtal varieties such as copper beech are planted.