ForestHarvest: non-timber forest products in Scotland

 PRODUCTS

Beech (Fagus sylvatica)

Family: Fagaceae

Description

Tall tree with characteristic smooth bark.

Habitat

Lowland woods.

Uses

Beech trees tend only to 'mast' (fruit) every few years. However, when they do they provide large quantities of small nuts. These make good fodder for livestock (e.g. pigs), but they can also be eaten by humans (raw or roasted).

Beech nuts also serve as a good source of cooking oil. This can be prepared by mincing or grinding them, wrapping them in a fine muslin bag and pressing it in a press or under a heavy weight.

The young, tender leaves are good as salad.

Gathering

Gather beechnuts in September-October. The squirrels will probably get them if you leave it too late. Collect leaves for salad in the spring, when they're so young they're almost translucent.

Image provided by William Milliken/RBGE