Native trees / Large trees / Sessile oak
| Family name | Beech |
|---|---|
| Latin family name | Fagaceae |
| Type of tree | Deciduous, and native |
| Average height | 15-30m |
| Leaf size | not available |
| Leaf colour | Dark green often glossy |
| Leaf bursts | Mid may |
| Flower size | not available |
| Flower colour | not available |
| Flower bursts | not available |
| Fruit size | not available |
| Fruit colour | Ripens to brown |
| Fruit bursts | Autumn |
| Soil type/enviromental conditions | Avoids heavy or alkaline soils. characterstic of north and west of Britain and often absent from the lowlands. |
| Tree lore and folklore | The oak tree has long been associated with folklore throughout Europe. The name druid means ‘oak man’. The oak was sacred to many people, including the ancient Greeks, the Norse and the Celts. It is often split by lightning, (probably because it is the tallest tree around) so was associated with the gods of thunder. Oak was the sacred wood burnt by the druids for their mid-summer sacrifice. Tradition has it that Charles II hid in an oak tree at Boscobel when pursued by the Roundheads. Since then children in various parts of the country wear oak leaves to commemorate Royal Oak Day (now known as Oak Apple Day) on May 29th. Between 1660 and 1859 Charles II made it a national holiday to celebrate the restoration of the monarchy in England. |
