Beech wood
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
The Common Beech (fagus sylvatica) is only considered a native tree to southern England and Wales. It grows in woods or as single trees, usually on drier, free-draining soil such as chalk downs or acidic soils, seeking water.
Beech woodland is shady with dense fallen leaves and mast husks preventing most plants from growing. The beech carries a shade wider than most, except holly (ilex spp) or yew (taxus spp) but can grow under other trees. Only shade-tolerant plants can survive beneath a beech canopy, Its smooth, silvery trunk can be beautiful.
The tallest recorded beech tree in England is 150ft and beech can reach 20 feet around at their stem. the average life span is around 250 years, with the oldest said to be over 320 years old. It can host a large number of wood decay fungi, pests and diseases meaning mature trees can die quite quickly if infected.
It is seen as a feminine tree, the queen, where oak is king. In Celtic mythology, Fagus was the god of beech trees, thought to have medicinal properties leaves were boiled to help relieve swelling. Forked beech twigs are also traditionally used for divining.
[edit] Wildlife
It is monoecious, which means both male and female flowers grow on the same tree, tassel-like male catkins hang from long stalks at the end of twigs, while female flowers grow in pairs, surrounded by a cup. Once wind pollinated the cup, contains one or two beech nuts (known as beechmast).
Beech woodland is an important habitat for butterflies, and food for the caterpillars. Seeds are eaten by mice, voles, squirrels and birds. Native truffle fungi also grow beneath these trees which help obtain nutrients in exchange for sugars from the tree (ectomycorrhizal)
[edit] Uses
Beech trees can be pollarded or coppiced, the wood traditionally being used to manufacture furniture as well as flooring, veneers, boatbuilding, cabinets, plywoods, piano parts and other musical instruments. It is a hard and strong wood but cannot withstand moisture, so it is not durable externally and is mostly used for interiors. In the UK, traditionally the bodgers of the Chilterns pollarded greenwood beech, using the craft of wood turning on site to form slim furniture legs which were then sold to the local furniture manufacturers in the area.
[edit] Specification
- Common Name(s): European beech, common beech
- Scientific Name: Fagus sylvatica
- Distribution: Europe
- Tree Size: 100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: 44.3 lbs/ft3 (710 kg/m3)
- Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): 0.53, 0.71
- Janka Hardness: 1,450 lbf (6,460 N)
- Modulus of Rupture: 15,970 lbf/in2 (110.1 MPa)
- Elastic Modulus: 2,075,000 lbf/in2 (14.31 GPa)
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- A guide to the use of urban timber FB 50.
- Birch wood.
- Carpentry.
- Cedar.
- Forest Stewardship Council.
- Hardwood.
- Lime wood.
- Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification
- Softwood.
- Timber vs wood.
- Types of timber.
[edit] External Links
Featured articles and news
Conservation in the age of the fourth (digital) industrial revolution.
Shaping the future of heritage
Embracing the evolution of economic thinking.
Ministers to unleash biggest building boom in half a century
50 major infrastructure projects, 5 billion for housing and 1.5 million homes.
RIBA Principal Designer Practice Note published
With key descriptions, best practice examples and FAQs, with supporting template resources.
Electrical businesses brace for project delays in 2025
BEB survey reveals over half worried about impact of delays.
Accelerating the remediation of buildings with unsafe cladding in England
The government publishes its Remediation Acceleration Plan.
Airtightness in raised access plenum floors
New testing guidance from BSRIA out now.
Picking up the hard hat on site or not
Common factors preventing workers using head protection and how to solve them.
Building trust with customers through endorsed trades
Commitment to quality demonstrated through government endorsed scheme.
New guidance for preparing structural submissions for Gateways 2 and 3
Published by the The Institution of Structural Engineers.
CIOB launches global mental health survey
To address the silent mental health crisis in construction.
New categories in sustainability, health and safety, and emerging talent.
Key takeaways from the BSRIA Briefing 2024
Not just waiting for Net Zero, but driving it.
The ISO answer to what is a digital twin
Talking about digital twins in a more consistent manner.
Top tips and risks to look out for.
New Code of Practice for fire and escape door hardware
Published by GAI and DHF.