Tree of The Week

SWEET CHESTNUT - Castanea Sativa

It was thought that the Sweet Chestnut was first introduced into Britain by the Romans, but today it can be found in large areas of woodland and coppicing plantations which the timber is used for fencing.

• Look out for the purple-grey bark which develops deep ridges with age. They can grow up to 35m tall and 700 years old.

• The leaves are glossy green and grown up to 25cm long. They are toothed around the edge, with a center line and finish with a tipped point at the bottom of the leaf. Green spiky shells also appear on the branches, these are the fruits which have been pollinated.