There is a section of trail at Spring Lake at Abbott Marshlands in Hamilton Township, New Jersey that was once called the Beech Trail, named for a majestic American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) tree that dominated a spot on the south side of an island that is part of the nature preserve.
American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), the island at Spring Lake, Abbott Marshlands
The tree was unusual on the island, which is otherwise dominated by River Birch, Oaks, Tuliptrees, Maples and Sassafras, with a rich understory that includes Arrowwood Viburnum, Common Spicebush, Winterberry Holly, Highbush Blueberry, and an herbaceous layer with Wild Oats, Canada Mayflower and Virginia Spiderwort, among many others. Maybe I wasn’t observant enough, but I never noticed another Beech tree in the vicinity of this one.
American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), the island at Spring Lake, Abbott Marshlands
For years, this beautiful Beech dominated its surroundings, overseeing the marsh below where Wood Ducks, Mergansers, Mallards and other ducks are often seen foraging for food, especially in winter.
Common Mergansers, south marsh, Abbott Marshlands
As Beech Trees sometimes do, this tree developed a natural cavity at its base, a cavity large enough to provide shelter for some of the Island’s animal inhabitants.
Cavity developing at the base of the American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)
In spite of this cavity, the Beech tree continued to grow and prosper, its remaining inner bark undisturbed and providing a sufficient vascular system to pump food to all of the tree’s branches and leaves.
American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), the island at Spring Lake, Abbott Marshlands
Then one day as my husband and I approached the tree, we saw evidence of a fire in its open base. One or more individuals had been setting fires in the hollow of this and other trees on the Island.
Evidence of fire is visible in the hollow of this American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), the island at Spring Lake, Abbott Marshlands
The fire didn’t kill the tree, but it did weaken and stress the wood that provided structural support for this lovely giant.
After a few years the stress took its toll, and major branches of the tree began to break.
Weakened by fire, the branches of the once majestic American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) begin to break
Weakened by fire, the branches of the once majestic American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) begin to break
Over the next few years, more of the branches broke down. Eventually, all of the major branches of the tree broke off. Because of its proximity to the trail, the wood was cut up and removed.
Broken branches of the once majestic American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) are cut up and removed
Now on the approach to the area where this once magnificent tree stood, the only remaining visible evidence of the tree is a burned snag less than 10 feet tall.
On the approach, the only remaining evidence of the beautiful American Beech is a burned out snag.
When I see the remains of this vibrant tree, it makes me sad to think how destructive we humans can be.
But the last time we visited the area, I took a closer look and began to be encouraged. From a different angle, I could see that there was still one living branch coming from the dead-looking stump stretching out towards the sun and the marsh below.
One branch stretches off to the right of the remains of the American Beech (Fagus grandifolia), with side branches reaching for the sun and sky.
When I looked around, I noticed two vigorous young Beech trees directly across the trail intersection from this tenacious tree.
Vigorous young American Beech across the trail
A glance down the trail to the east revealed parchment-like winter leaves vibrating in the breeze in many places, a tell-tale sign of many more young beech trees of varying ages.
Young American Beech trees all along the trail to the east
As I looked to the west, there were young healthy Beech trees every few feet lining the trail as far as I could see.
Young American Beech trees lining the trail as afar as the eye can see
Beech trees are able to reproduce through the nuts they produce, but they also have an extensive root system from which they send up new shoots. Many, if not all, of these young Beech trees are shoots from the one formerly majestic mother tree that still clings to life at the edge of the island. She lives on.
Seeing the proliferation of young Beech trees gives me hope that the other species in our ecosystem will help heal the wounds inflicted in our world by unthinking members of our own species.
The magnificent mother Beech (Fagus grandifolia) lives on.
Thanks to Jeff Worthington for the use of his excellent photos documenting a few slices in the life of this American Beech.
For more information about American Beech trees, click here.
The Natural Web 
A story worth telling. Thank you, Mary Anne.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Mary Anne, I have always shared your passion for that stately beech, although I did not know that it mattered to anyone but me. Of all the trees in the Marsh, THIS was the one I had to be sure to find, to touch, upon each visit. Clyde Quinn and Warren Liebensperger, whom I nicknamed “The Godfathers of the Marsh” alerted me to the depredations, first of Hurricane Sandy, which were not fatal, and then, of the fires. My heart ached. I love seeing this tree in all its varied stages of glory. The end of this post, with the young beeches flourishing, is heartening for the Marsh, as well as for various other seemingly hopeless, dark, destructive situations in our time.
Let’s all take positive action, or no negative action, in the world in which we live.
Thank you, Mary Anne and Jeff. Your posts always arrive in a magical moment to soothe my soul. Regeneration of the beech is a beautiful environmental tale. I didn’t know that cavities can occur “naturally”. I always thought it to be the work of an intruder.
I find nature always soothes my soul! Hope all is well with you.
What a moving story. We could all learn so much from trees …
Yes, let’s all follow the example of other species in nature. Let’s do positive things.
Though this is yet another example of why I mostly want to resign from the ‘human’ race, it is so inspirational to see an example straight out of ‘The Hidden Life of Trees’ of the power of the underground network of trees. Thank you for a beautiful story, even though tinged with mankind’s unerring stupidity in relationships with the natural world.
Maybe it’s a call to all of us to be thoughtful humans, who contribute positive things to the world. Let’s lead by example.
Nice story and a good education on many levels.
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Thanks, Bob!
What a wonderfully documented story – so sad for those who love trees, yet so full of hope for the future at the same time!
We have to live in hope!
This article is a gift. Thank you so much for what your sharing in this space. There are so many helpful lessons on both the inner and outer world. Beautifully written!
Thank you, Noelle!
A lovely heartening story – thank you!
Maybe the rest of nature will save us from ourselves!