American beech is an important species in the Northern Hardwood woodlands that comprise most of the forests in western Massachusetts. Its beechnuts are an important source of food for deer, bear, turkeys and other wildlife, particularly in woodlands that don’t contain oaks. Federal surveys have shown that Beech comprises 10% of forest trees statewide, more than 140 million in all, but in much higher proportions in western parts of the state.
In recent years, beech species in the Northeast have been under attack from a previously unknown invasive nematode, Litylenchus crenatae ssp. mcannii , called LCM, thought to be native to Japan. The nematode damages beech leaves in the buds before the trees leaf out in the spring. The damage causes parts of leaves to be blackened and shriveled when they emerge, preventing them from doing photosynthesis and feeding the tree. The infestation, if severe enough, will weaken and eventually kill beech trees. Such infestations, which have been called Beech Leaf Disease, threaten all species of beech.
The Massachusetts Tree Farm Program will hold a What is Happening to Beech Trees tour at the Cox family’s Tavern Top Trust Tree Farm on South Road in Hawley on Saturday, August 23rd from 9 to 11 am. At the tour, participants can see some of the damage caused by Beech Leaf Disease, and discuss recent research of methods to control it.
“A lot of woods in western Mass. have substantial amounts of beech trees,” said Gregory Cox, who administers the Tree Farm program. “We used to have the problem of having too many beech trees, now we’re concerned we could have too few.”
The 90-acre Taverntop Trust woodlands in Hawley have been owned by the greater Cox family since the 1920’s. They have been actively managed since 1975 and have been a certified Tree Farm since 1983.
Participants should meet at the junction of South and Plainfield Roads at 9 a.m. Long pants and bug spray are recommended. The tour will be postponed in the event of heavy rain.
For more information, call or email Greg Cox at 413 475-2883 or gcox@crocker.com.