Antarctic beech (Nothofagus Antarctica)

We planted this tree in a far corner of the garden several years ago when it was less than two metres high. Since then it has grown a lot and is quite unruly in its habit. However, that is what attracted it to us in the first place, along with its tiny glossy green leaves which turn yellow in autumn. I don't usually look closely at it in winter but today when I was out with the camera I happened to notice that it's chocolate brown bark had lovely silver slivers all over it and where the branches had sprouted there was an interesting hairy growth. Hence, it became my Blip for today.