Sweet Chestnut Castanea sativa
Sweet Chestnut’s were introduced to Britain over 2000 years and are now considered an ‘honorary’ native tree. Mature trees are a magnificent size and often have hollow trunks. The wood is of high value and is durable when used outside.
Conservation status in Norfolk
Widely planted and not thought to be under threat.
How to help
Notify veteran trees to your local tree warden or to the Tree Officer at Norfolk County Council.
Wildstock
Information on the Sweet Chestnut
How to recognise
The large leaves of the sweet chestnut are quite distinctive, being oval in shape and boldly toothed, almost ‘saw-like’ in appearance. When they first burst from their bud they are a pale green colour, which darkens with age and then fades to a golden colour in autumn. The bark of the tree is deeply grooved, and may appear to travel up the tree in almost a spiral. The nut of the sweet chestnut is held in a green, case covered in bristles. As the chestnut ripens it splits open revealing usually 3 nuts, although often only one of the nuts is fertlile.
Where to see
It is native to southern Europe, northern Africa and Asia, but has naturalised in warmer southern Britain, where it was probably introduced by the Romans, around AD 100. Sweet chestnuts do not like wet or chalky soils. The woods at Bickling Hall and Felbrigg Hall, two National Trust properties in North Norfolk, have some magnificent ancient (veteran) sweet chestnuts, and are particular worth a visit in autumn when the leaves begin to change colour.
When to see
Leaves open in April and in June strongly scented catkins (said to smell like fried mushrooms) are produced. The fertilised female flowers ripen during the summer, forming chestnuts by October.
Did you know?
Sweet chestnuts do not produce seeds until they are approximately 30-40 years old.
Finding out more
The British Tree Council
Related questions
Surveying woodlands – How can I tell if my tree is ancient?
Use survey form m
As a guideline, if the girth of your tree is
greater than the following measurements, it is likely to be an ancient tree:
Species
|
Girth |
Hawthorn
Field maple, rowan
Alder, ash, beech
Lime, oak, sycamore
Sweet chestnut, yew |
2.5m
3m
5m
5.5m
6m |
NB: The girth of the tree trunk is measure at 1.5m from the ground, all the way around the trunk.
Surveying woodlands