Hornbeam is a native tree found in ancient woods in the southeast of England. It is commonest in woodland to north of London in Hertfordshire and Essex. It was coppiced for fuel and also pollarded in places like Epping Forest. In the Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire Chilterns it is often found as laid hedges around the boundaries of ancient woods as high coppice stubs. It tolerates cutting. It is however damaged by bark stripping by grey squirrels. Some people mistake hornbeam for beech due to similar shaped leaves and colour of bark, but the texture of the leaves is very different and the bark is too, when you know what to look for.