If trees could talk, the tales this one could tell

These species all provide important habitats to a great variety of wildlife. As well as the ‘Mother of the Woods’, the Beech is known as the ‘Queen of the Trees’ - her King being, of course, the mighty Oak.

Throughout history, humans have respected and made use of beech trees. The wood burns well, and beechnuts and leaves are edible. The bark of the beech is easy to write on, and you will have often seen lovers’ hearts and names carved into their trunks. It is probable that the word ‘book’ comes from the Germanic word for beech.

Among our stand of trees, there is a particularly noteworthy beech tree which is proudly reaching its three smooth, grey, limbs skywards, carefully avoiding a neighbouring lime. Thankfully, no one has chosen to graffiti this tree, which grows near to Gregory’s Handyman Store and across the road from an untidy, and unassuming, small triangle of land.

This beech tree has two very interesting stories to tell. Beneath the ground on the triangle there is a well, which was greatly appreciated in days gone by.

In the past, disastrous fires had occurred in Rothbury all too often. This was when the houses were covered with thatch.

When our tree was not yet a seed (or beechnut) on its mother tree, several serious fires had raged through buildings.

In 1781, another terrible fire destroyed 16 houses. Fire, so necessary for human warmth and work, could also be a deadly enemy, taking a great deal of effort to subdue.