Fagus silvatica; Beech

Beech is a large vigorous deciduous tree with a broad, spreading crown. It has a typical lifespan of 150 to 200 years,but sometimes up to 300 years.

 Prefers a calcareous soil but succeeds in acid soils though it does not make such a fine tree in such a situation, also very wind tolerant but dislikes salt.Trees have two growth periods a year, each of about 3 weeks in duration.The first is in spring around the end of April, the second is in summer, around the end of July.

This Fagus Silvatica is located in a very small park called People's park in Glossop.

It is around 10 m tall and grows in damp soil. This Beech has a beautiful 

wide-spreading canopy which is still green compared to other trees of its kind. 

Bark is grey in colour and becomes thicker and deeply fissured in mature trees 

The leaves are alternate, simple, and entire or with a slightly crenate margin, 5–10 cm long. are often not abscissed in the autumn and instead remain on the tree until the spring. This process is called marcescence and occurs when trees are saplings or when plants are clipped as a hedge.

The buds are long and slender and thicker  where the buds include flower buds.

Flowers small green and followed by bristly fruits.