ALL the deciduous trees this year put on a fantastic autumn colour show, transforming our country landscape in the most delightful way.

My favourite though, has to be the colours of the beech tree.

Beech trees are a proud and prominent tree wherever they occur and whatever the time of year.

They are among the largest trees in England growing to a height of 30m.

In addition to its height, the beech tree has a distinctive spreading shape, so when you look at a mature example you cannot help but be impressed by the sheer amount of wood that makes up each individual tree.

Despite this apparent abundance of timber, beech wood is not the most commercial of timber crops. Instead, oak is the wood of choice, with its superior load bearing qualities for construction.

Beech wood, however, does burn well and the timber was frequently harvested to provide fuel both domestically and in industry in bygone days. The beautiful light coloured timber was also, to a limited degree, sought after for its decorative properties in carpentry.

While not being the most valued of timber trees, beech woods were commonly planted as either landscape features - after a colour display like this autumn, who would argue - or for the crop of beech seeds or masts.

As these fell to the woodland floor they would provide an important dietary supplement for cattle, pigs and deer.

Beech trees also seem to stand out in both the landscape and in mixed woodland situations. I feel this is due to a couple of reasons.

Firstly, mature beech trees have such a dense closed canopy that this prevents light from reaching the woodland floor thus stifling the development of a dense shrub layer, making the silky bark of the beech trees stand proud.

This can be a problem in areas like Habberley Valley, where young beech are threatening to overgrow the important areas of bilberry.

Secondly, the waxy coating to the leaves of the beech tree makes them appear slightly different to other woodland trees in high summer, during the autumnal colour change and probably most strikingly in winter.

Through the winter months the beech leaves which have been turned completely brown, are retained on the trees making them stand out in the otherwise bare woodland landscape.