Beech mast

Beech nuts, or beech mast are the fruit of the beech tree (Fagus) and for me, at this stage of their development, they are always a sign of approaching autumn. Soon they will have fallen to the forest floor where in our local park they will provide food for the squirrels. The nuts apparently are actually edible although bitter, and historically formed food for pigs. Pannage, the practice of releasing domestic pigs in the forest to feed on the mast was a right or privilege granted to local people on common land or forest. The practice has long since disappeared except in the New Forest in Southern England, where it helps in the care of New Forest ponies, a breed of pony native to that area. Pigs apparently can safely eat mast while large amounts could harm the ponies, but the whole process and duration of the pannage season is strictly regulated.