Nice shot of it Bulldog. you have caught the light on the trunks really well. I am pretty sure its out of control/abandoned hedge and quite old and, as a bit of a tree-hugger, I am glad you have posted it for us all to see!
I think it started life as a hedge, we had a lot of these where i used to attempt to play golf.........(great for concealing golf balls too!! ) and then the hedge probably hazel , grew up!! Thats my theory anyway!!
@tishpics - Quite a few years ago, the footpath just ran openly along the side of these and about a year ago the farmer enclosed the path with a barbed wire fence. The fence is not intrusive and the path is still very wide, so none of the dog walkers mind (it keeps the cow-pats off the path). This is the same line of trees/hedge that can be seen in the back of this shot: http://365project.org/gphelps5/365/2012-08-27
@fannyb Replying to your question, Bulldog, yes I think I'm just about grown up now! This does look like a beech hedge to me, rather than a hazel - but I'm not really expert!!
@gphelps5
I thought it was a beech hedge from the first photo too. As a country bumpkin, I know what beech looks like and I know what trees that used to be a hedge look like so it wasn't hard for me :) lol
I think you should call it Eric.
Seriously, a picture of a single leaf of you are able to oblige would help with identification. If it keeps a significant number of its leaves on its branches through the winter months it's almost certainly a beech. I think the leaves staying on is a reason why beech hedges are so popular for enclosing people's properties.
@tishpics - Quite a few years ago, the footpath just ran openly along the side of these and about a year ago the farmer enclosed the path with a barbed wire fence. The fence is not intrusive and the path is still very wide, so none of the dog walkers mind (it keeps the cow-pats off the path). This is the same line of trees/hedge that can be seen in the back of this shot: http://365project.org/gphelps5/365/2012-08-27
@fannyb - Good theory Fanny, shall we ask her - @quietpurplehaze
@lesip - There a number of them around these fields and yes, they really do have character and possibly Fannys balls????
@m9f9l - Ha ha ha, I think this one looks even more like an elephant than the first one. I may have to take some Googly eyes with me next time.
@triciaodonnell @annbo
@quietpurplehaze - Thanks for clearing that you Beech, er sorry, Hazel.
I thought it was a beech hedge from the first photo too. As a country bumpkin, I know what beech looks like and I know what trees that used to be a hedge look like so it wasn't hard for me :) lol
@joluise - What an enchanting thought..
@justkariherself - Thanks
@lynnb - I thing this used to be part of a hedge, many years ago but it has been left to grow.
Seriously, a picture of a single leaf of you are able to oblige would help with identification. If it keeps a significant number of its leaves on its branches through the winter months it's almost certainly a beech. I think the leaves staying on is a reason why beech hedges are so popular for enclosing people's properties.
@dulciknit