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range, most acid beechwoods are developed on low elevation sites (< 150 m a. s. l.) over gravel
and sand deposits of Tertiary ages (Bracklesham beds etc.). A proportion of acid beechwoods
within the natural range has an open wood-pasture/parkland structure, consisting of overmature
beech, known in Britain as “veteran trees”. In upland areas of northern and western
Britain, acid beechwoods have been created by planting (very locally to > 400 m a. s. l.) over hard
rock geologies (granites, sandstones, schists etc). Common tree species associates are sessile oak
(Quercus petraea), birch (Betula pendula), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), holly (Ilex aquifolium), the
introduced Rhododendron ponticum and a variety of conifer tree species not native to these sites.
Many acid beechwoods have very sparse ground vegetation due to canopy shade, but the fine
grass Deschampsia flexuosa often dominates, together with Vaccinium myrtillus. In artificial beech
stands, a variety of other species can become dominant including the grasses Agrostis capillaris,
Holcus lanatus and H. mollis and locally, Luzula sylvatica. The native climax vegetation on sites of
this kind outside the natural range of beech would have consisted of open oak-birch woodland
with strongly calcifuge ground flora.
The curreNT brITIsh beech resource – eXTeNT
aNd aGe-cLass dIsTrIbuTIoN
The most comprehensive information concerning the current land-cover of beech in Great Britain
comes from the National Inventory of Woodlands and Trees (NIWT), a nation-wide sample-based
survey of the nation’s forest resources conducted on a roughly ten-year cycle. The most recent available
data arise from the last survey, reported in 2001 – 2002 (see Tables 1 and 2). Work is currently
under-way on the next round of survey, known as the National Forest Inventory, which will produce
up-dated information for publication over the next five years. There is unlikely to have been major
change in the position of beech over the past decade as little new beech woodland has been planted
and there has been limited felling of older beech.
Tab. 1: Extent and relative significance of the beech resource within Great Britain
Data obtained from the latest FC National Inventory of Woodlands and Trees (2001 - 2002)
Tree species England (ha) Wales (ha) Scotland (ha) Britain (ha) Britain (%)
Oak 158,665 42,918 21,114 222,697 9.4
Ash 104,920 19,321 4,904 129,145 5.4
Beech 64,022 8,998 9,961 82,981 3.5
Sycamore 48,805 6,907 10,882 66,594 2.8
Birch1 69,633 12,579 77,780 159,992 6.7
Other/Mixed2 201,523 26,780 81,722 310,025 13.0
Broadleaves 647,568 117,503 206,363 971,434 40.8
Conifers 340,201 148,913 916,490 1,405,604 59.2
Forested area 987,768 266,416 1,122,583 2,376,767 100
Notes: 1 Almost all of the area described as birch woodland will be spontaneous or sub-spontaneous woodland
that is not under active management for birch timber production.
2 There may be a significant but undefined quantity of mature beech, some potentially suitable for timber,
submerged within the other/mixed broadleaved woodland category.