Beech
Scientific name: Fagus sylvatica
Quick facts
Common name: common beech
Scientific name: Fagus sylvatica
Family: Fagaceae
Origin: native
Burnham Beeches gets its name from the ancient beech pollards that are found here. Pollards are trees which have been cut at just above head height and then subjected to repeated cycles of regrowth and cutting. Beech will normally live for around 300 years, but our pollards are up to 500 years old; their long life is because they’ve been cut as pollards. The way they are managed means they are full of holes and decaying wood which is great for our wildlife. Unfortunately, the tree’s vulnerability to drought and the threat of climate change could mean that in the future, this part of southern Britain may no longer provide suitable conditions for beech to survive.