Tree Species: Beech (Fagus sylvatica)

Owner: Ian Young – NIBS member since 1993 and current club Chairperson

Potter if Known: Bryan Albright

History: 

This common beech was bought as raw material from Willowbog Bonsai back in 2001. The tree had been collected from Keilder forest where it had been planted in 1950. Growing in a frost hollow and regularly eaten by deer it kept itys small proportions.

Ian bought the tree for £150 back in 2001 and it has been in his care since. A very naturalistic image with minimal wiring over the years. It has seen many pot changes in this time all of which try to show off the natural root spread of the tree. In 2025 the tree was removed from its dark blue yamafusa pot and put into the slightly bigger Bryan Albright pot to have a better balance with the canopy in leaf as you see it at BONSAI 40.

A typical photo of Willowbogs stock back in the day.

below the tree as bought from willowbog in 2001.

below the tree after a few years of development in a Jackson Conn pot.

The tree in more recent years showing its stunning winter image in the previous Yamafusa pot.