{"id":1489,"date":"2018-08-18T11:00:26","date_gmt":"2018-08-18T10:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fongw.org.uk\/?page_id=1489"},"modified":"2018-08-25T12:34:15","modified_gmt":"2018-08-25T11:34:15","slug":"sweet-chestnut","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.fongw.org.uk\/?page_id=1489","title":{"rendered":"Sweet Chestnut"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\"\"<\/a>Sweet Chestnut is common throughout the wood and some examples are quite old. However, most of them were deliberately introduced and planted in distinct groves or rows, which explains the fact that their density varies very noticeably. There is a large concentration of them around ‘Six-Ways’. Mature Sweet Chestnuts vie with oaks in size and stature. In winter they can be confused with oaks, but they have a distinct swirling bark compared to the more vertical granular oak bark.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>During most of the year, however, the leaves are distinctive and identification is easy.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Here is one of the well-known groves close to the N-S ride across Rowbourne Hill:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The same grove in summer:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>More images in this gallery:<\/p>\n