Great Trees of Wirral - About the Project

A Green Jewel

Key Facts

Species: Fern Leaved Beech, Fagus sylvatica “Asplenifolia”	Location: Enter Flaybrick Memorial Gardens via the front gate on Tollemache Road, proceed up main drive and take first path on the right. CH43 0DG
Height: 16m (2004)	Access: from 8am to 8pm every day of the year.
Diameter: 108cm (2004)	Best time to see: May when foliage is a superb light green
Planting date: Planted 1864	Threats: None
Tree Register of British Isles Status: Class 2	Who looks after the tree? Friends of Flaybrick and Wirral Borough Council Parks and Open Spaces Department
Tree Register of British Isles Number: 159708	Tree warden: none
Tree Preservation Order Number : none	Can I grow one in my garden? No, too big
	Date of photo: May 2010

Therapeutic and Medicinal Qualities

Used for the Bach Flower remedy which helps to develop tolerance. The nuts are edible and are both tasty and nutritious.

Significance

In May this tree gleams emerald green and seems to embrace the graves lying beneath it. Its leaves are dissected compared to other more common beech varieties. It is in fact one of a pair, the other lies on the opposite side of the main drive. There is also a smaller one further back in the gardens near the chapels. Apart from being the best example known on the Wirral, the tree was planted by the important landscaper Edward Kemp. It also forms a key part of the English Heritage grade 2 star listed landscape of Flaybrick Memorial Gardens.