'Harry Potter' Beech tree.

[Jim Ford]

A 400 year old pollarded beech tree with a 25 meter span. Well worth a visit if you're in the Ashridge Forest area in Herts..



Apparently this tree was in a 'Harry Potter' film (I'm not a fan 'though!).

Jim

[Dorts]

What a wonderfull tree; not been pollarded for a good 80 years or more by the look of it.
I'm surprised some of the larger branches have not fallen away from the main trunk, which is what so often happens with these old pollards.

For those who are not sure what is going on here; these trees were pollarded, that is the branches were cut-off at regular intervals, to supply wood for various purposes but mainly for fire-wood. This was far better than cutting down the whole tree and gave a sustainable resource.
The branches were removed at a height more than that a grazing animal could reach, otherwise they would feed on the young shoots. This pollarding was done every 5-10-15 years or so depending on the size of wood required, a practice that, if continued, could prolong the life of the tree almost indefinitely.

When the First World War started, these trees were left, and very few such trees were ever cut again, though in some places the practice has been revived to try to stop the inevitable collapse of these fine trees.
Dorts.

[Littlesparrow]

It looks a good shape to build a tree house in Jim, was the Harry Potter tree called something like a Whomping tree? and the branches tried to thump anyone who got too close.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Dorts

I'm surprised some of the larger branches have not fallen away from the main trunk, which is what so often happens with these old pollards.

Some branches have fallen off! There are several big pollarded beeches in Frithsden beeches, and there are warning notices to keep to the path because of unpredictable branch shedding.

Jim

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Littlesparrow

It looks a good shape to build a tree house in Jim, was the Harry Potter tree called something like a Whomping tree? and the branches tried to thump anyone who got too close.

I don't know. The Guardian article in the Gallery image description say that it was in 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'.

Jim

[Pete Collins]

I got a bit worried when near the end of that Guardian article it started referring to people 'logging' all the ancient trees - then it dawned on me they meant RECORDING, not FELLING !!!

There is a similar old pollarded beech on Whipsnade Heath, close to where I live, where one of the main branches has broken and fallen to the ground - the fallen branch is pretty much the size of a normal mature beech tree!

[Deb London]

Nice one Jim.

Will have to check out that Forest to try and find the tree (did he say forest - I take it that's a lot of trees to check? )

Signed:

"a HP fan".

PS Who's the beautiful lady beneath it?

[Hedera]

HP's was a Whomping Willow.

[GCN lova]

hehe my grandparents have a tree that looks like lord voldermort in front of their house...

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Deb London

Will have to check out that Forest to try and find the tree (did he say forest - I take it that's a lot of trees to check? )

Park near the War Memorial, in the car park at TL 003 093 and walk NNW through the golf course to Frithsden Beeches. The big pollarded beeches are approximately at SP 999 105. You'll know your in the right area when you start seeing warning notices about falling branches!

When you've finished, it's well worth going to the Bridgewater monument at SP 970 131. There's a cafe there that serves excellent food at reasonable prices. They're open every day.

Jim