European hornbeam is native throughout the Northern Hemisphere. The name ‘hornbeam’ refers to the heavy, hard wood, and its usage for tools and building constructions. It also burns hot and slowly, making it very suitable for firewood. The Romans used hornbeam to make their chariots because of the strength of the wood. Other traditional uses were butchers’ chopping blocks, ox-yokes, piano hammers, wood screws, coach wheels and cogs for windmills and water mills.
