28 LONDON TREES 



Beech 



(Fagus sylvaticd) 



JUDGING from the existing specimens of the 

 Beech that are to be found in the centre of London, 

 there can be little doubt that a century and more 

 ago this tree succeeded better in the Metropolis than 

 is the case with more recently planted specimens. 

 Beech trees of giant proportions, some of which are 

 90 feet high and with a stem diameter of fully 4 feet, 

 are still to be found, though many of these are gradually 

 dying out, probably owing to the increase of chemical 

 impurities that are now present in the atmosphere 

 as compared with a century ago. At Grove House 

 and Hanover Lodge, both in Regent's Park, are by 

 far the finest Beech trees that are to be found in central 

 London, though, unfortunately, of late years some of 

 the largest specimens have been killed by chemical 

 and other fumes that are given off from the electric 

 shafts and chimneys of the surrounding district. 

 Farther out, in the comparatively pure air of Golder's 

 Green Park, there are many magnificent specimens of 

 the Beech, but those in Regent's Park are the finest 

 in central London. 



There is a noble specimen growing on the lawn 

 of Grove House which was, in all probability, planted 

 previous to the laying-out of the park, a hundred and 

 twenty years ago. This well-developed, healthy tree 

 is 80 feet in height, the branches which sweep the 

 greensward covering a space of 75 feet in diameter, 

 while the majestic stem girths 10^ feet at a yard from 

 ground- level. Another Beech in the same grounds 

 growing on the sloping bank of the Regent's Canal has 

 a ponderous trunk and far-spreading head of foliage. 



