Field Maple

I see the Field Maple (Acer campestre), our only native Maple, as too often overlooked; you rarely hear it mentioned and I doubt many could identify it. The Field Maple produces a very hard dense timber which is valued by those building musical instruments and for veneering. Its small stature, common to the Field Maple, may suggest immaturity, although on closer inspection you'll see many of them are hundreds of years old; the Field Maple can live for 400 years or so, and even longer if coppiced. It may be that in the future the Field Maple becomes more common as it's very resistant to pollution and may fill the void left by those who aren't. I particularly enjoy its 'helicopter' fruits (seeds) which can be beautifully coloured.