European Beech woods

Yes,this is right around my place - 10 minutes cross-country/woods. It's part of the Bistal, named after Bismarck who loved the forests and deer (as I said above, it is still Bismarck property, private woods but of course public accessable)

Surprisingly I didn't find that much mushrooms in that area as I found elsewhere around. Due to the fact that Beeches tend to cover the ground with comparable heavy leaves the entire year (it is rotting slowly), they are as hard to find as well as they have it hard to grow thru it. As for mixing it up, Edward - yes, for the beauty of the picture it is somehow sad. But for the protection of the remaining Beeches it is a positive action. Young larches are going to grow up fast, cover the taller Beeches from strong winds (specially in winter) and most important, the Larches bark is preferred by the Deer in winters to bite. It's a protection action, since we have a lot of deer around here. All actions to reforest the beeches failed due to the deer's need/lack of food in winter.

Edward, yes - this part of the woods nearby used to grow European Beeches only. Now they are about 150 - 250 Years old, they have to harvest them before they collaps and damage the younger ones - the spaces are going to be filled with a mixture of Larches, though. Sad to know that these awesome Beeches will be gone one day. It is property of the Bismarcks by the way.