Beech

Along the top of one of my favourite hillsides there is a sporadic bunch of stark trees that thrust themselves up in the way of the setting sun each evening. I’ve long admired their elegant shapes and quiet russle in a westerly. It turns out they’re very easy to identify, particularly early in the year.

Key to identification: the hairy, light green young leaves were a dead match with the beech illustrations in my wee book. Together with the furry little male catkins (reproductive organs, clearly visible on longish stalks in the left hand picture), I was sure. Later on in the year I will look out as the leaves crispen up and darken slightly.

I’ve since learned that there is a variety of tree called a copper beech which has beautiful red leaves all year round.

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