Carpinus betulus (Hornbeam)
In Toll Wood:
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There are many good-sized specimens sharing space with the elms, predominantly in the northern part of the wood. The leaves are distinctly deeply-furrowed, more so than beech-leaves; the trunk is smooth, pale grey with vertical markings. Mature examples have the appearance of vertical 'curtain folds'.
Autumn colour is yellow-orange.
They respond well to coppicing, pollarding and use as hedging. Hedging hornbeam holds onto its leaves into winter to the benefit of wildlife shelter, and the winged seed provides winter food for birds and mammals.
In their natural form, longevity of 300 years makes the hornbeam important for carbon storage and their large size makes them important for carbon sequestration per tree. Equally, mature hornbeams are significant for their role in avoidance of run-off as part of a Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS). They are also moderately performers for pollution removal.
Their longevity (up to 300 years) and robustness makes them an important anchor species in a woodland setting. Mature timber is very hard and strong lending itself to all 'mechanical' uses and durable poles. It is also valuable in charcoal production.
Biodiversity value: MEDIUM
These trees are moderately important in the variety of invertebrates they are able to support (51). The leaves are host to leaf-mining species, the tree is favoured by "chewers" (especially moth caterpillars - e.g. Nut tree tussock) rather than "sap sucking". There are only 4 gall-making invertebrates for hornbeam.
Wind pollination, makes the hornbeam less valuable in supporting biodiversity in pollinating insects.
