Hornbeam: Our Magical Friend
By woodlandstv
Slow connection? Watch in lower quality
“What is the hornbeam?” says Nick Lear, who has been managing a large hornbeam wood in Sussex for more than 20 years. Often confused with the beech, very few people really know the tree and its many qualities. This film takes us on a journey from Sussex to Walthamstow in London to explore its history, its many uses, its beauty and sheer resilience. Largely forgotten by many foresters, we learn from a woodsman, an outdoor chef, an artist and a community activist what the tree really represents. Enjoy the journey from “the very best of firewood” to a Bach remedy that “revives the soul”.
A film for WoodlandsTV, produced by One Planet Media a small company who really love trees, with two woodland owners amongst its Associates.
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Discussion
@actionadah One out of three is correct
I have some in my stairway both as posts and hand rails, left the bark on and did not put any finish on them, the fuzzy outer part fell off quickly but over the years the oils from many hands has polished them up quite nicely. One post has a branch that looped back and grew back into the tree about 20" above where it comes out.
@Andre Blanchard I think the creator of this thread is talking about a different species than the rest of us. Maybe I'm wrong. The tree that I'm familiar with called hopp hornbeam does get to a big enough size to use as you describe , but "blue beech , muscle wood , small under story bush" , doesn't sound like the tree I'm familiar with. Scaley bark , medium size , usually straight growing ( in forest setting) very hard tree. I don't recall hoppy flowers but who knows.
I cut one of these down not knowing what it was. Tried to split it with axe for firewood. The wood would have nothing to do with it!
Sounds like elm. You sure about it?
Hornbeam was called because as the yoke between two draft oxen to pull a wooden plough it wwent on their shoulders with a collar underneath it was a strong but lighter wood than oak and could be shapped to fit the oxen this is the yoke of the bible
@Roger Scott Cathey pretty sure yes. The leaves a match for hornbeam and after getting a couple pieces to split eventually I saw that the the wood was very white.
@Fagus Grandifolia Good, keep up the good work you very productive planter of trees !
@Bob Russell Thanks, Bob!
@Vert Woods Thank you for your "order" I will keep you posted as to how things go.
Jonty Shearme
December 3, 2019