assess hornbeam as a standard tree and as an integral
component of semi-natural ancient woodland.
DELINEATION OF THE SURVEY AREA
The 75 m x 75 m square selected for my survey is situated
in the north-west section of Hadley Woods, delineated
to the north by a dry gulley, and to the south by a wall
of sycamore coppice. A stream running north to south
through the wood provides a natural eastern boundary
and the western boundary was sited 20 m from the
woodland edge. This was done to avoid inclusion of tree
species like blackthorn, sallow and willow, which thrive
in the higher light conditions of the woodland margins but
are not generally present inside.
POPULATION PROFILE
Every standing hornbeam tree within the 75 x 75 m area
was measured for circumference at breast height (CBH) to
the nearest 5 cm using a cloth tape measure. CBH for all
other trees within the same area and identified by species
was also measured. Trees with a CBH of less than 40 cm
were not recorded in this survey and were classed as
understorey. Of the 56 trees that were measured, 32 (56.1
per cent) were hornbeam, followed by ash (14/24.6 per
cent), sycamore (6/10.5 per cent), beech (3/5.3 per cent)
and oak (2/3.5 per cent).
Mean and median CBH for the 32 hornbeams was
142.9 cm and 150 cm respectively. Six, 16 and 27 trees had
recorded girths greater than 175 cm, 150 cm and 100 cm
respectively. Only two hornbeam trees came in with girths
less than 90 cm. Range of girth (CBH) for ash, sycamore,
beech and oak was 330–120 cm, 165–70 cm, 250–105 cm
and 255–195 cm respectively.
The age of most broadleaf tree species can be
estimated by dividing CBH by a constant number ranging
Hadley’s hornbeams are firmly rooted in ancient
woodland. According to local historians, hundreds
of defeated and slain Lancastrian soldiers were
buried here following the last set piece of the
Wars of the Roses (Battle of Barnet), in a place
dubbed ‘dead-man’s bottom’.Above: Early April and the Hadley
hornbeams are with new, emerging
leaves and male catkins.