Silver birch - betula pendula
The birch is one of the most common of Britain’s native broad-leaved
trees. The Silver birch grows well all over Britain although Downy Birch
is more common in Scotland. It grows as quite a tall tree although
sometimes will grow small like a shrub but always with elegant, drooping
branches, a light canopy and whip like twigs.
Age and
height
It grows up to 30 m and over 80 years old.
Warty Bark!
The bark is a whitish colour and sheds layers
like tissue paper. The smooth twigs have little dark warts.
Downy Birch has greyish bark that doesn’t peel. The twigs are
smooth with no warts.
The bark of both becomes rugged with darker diamond
shaped crevices as it grows.
Leaves Flowers and seeds
Are small, roughly
triangular and pointed with a toothed edge.
Female flowers called “catkins”
are bright green at first becoming dark crimson in Summer. Before seeds
are dropped they hang like “lamb tails”.
Where does the Birch grow?
Birches are found naturally in Northern Europe. They are pioneer species, with light wind blown seeds, that can grow quickly on bare land without being planted. Birch prefer light, dry and acid soils but are also able to cling to rocks and mountain sides. They can grow in cold climates and further North than any other tree; distinctive and shrub like Downy Birch in the Scottish highlands and the Dwarf Birch in the arctic circle. These invasive characteristics and its’ tolerance to pollution make it ideal for establishing trees on exposed and industrial sites.
Wildlife around the Birch
The Birch has high conservation value. The light, open canopy with
spaced, small leaves give light shade on the woodland floor. This allows
varied ground flora especially mosses, grasses and flowering plants to grow.
This means plenty of food for a wide range of insects, birds and many other animals. The Chaffinch, Tree Pipit, Willow Warbler, and Robin are characteristic to Birch woodlands. You may also find the Woodcock, Nightingale, Woodpecker or Redpoll.
Birch can withstand the wind, hard frosts and strong sunshine. Birchwoods
in Scotland, for example, are particularly valuable as shelter from the
weather for sheep and other animals.
Timber
Birch wood does not have much commercial value in Britain; it is grown more as a timber tree in Scandinavia. The wood is a pale, smooth and light hardwood used mostly for furniture and plywood.
Birch wood today
Smaller trees are used for tool and brush handles, toys.
The waterproof
bark can be used for roofing and tanning leather.
The twigs can be bound
together to make brushes called besoms.
Old uses - Spools, bobbins, boxes
and handles.
