Using wood chip from conifers as mulch around beech hedge

[Merguez]

I just got a delivery of wood chip to use as a mulch on my garden paths in my veg garden.

I can tell from the resiny smell that it is from conifers.

There is loads leftover. Would it be OK to use around the base of a young beech hedge to suppress weeds, or would it be bad for the beech as well? Done loads of googling on this and no clear consensus...

There's a theory that fresh wood chip mulch is bad for the soil robbing it of nitrogen as it decomposes or something, isn't there? Personally I'd consider putting down some good membrane then using the wood chip on top of that, keeping it a good 15cm away from the actual beech trunks but close enough to help with weeds and keeping the soil moist. But someone else may know better!