Silver Birch
Betula pendula
One of our most prolifically occurring native trees, Silver Birches are relatively easy to identify, having paper thin whitish bark with rough dark patches and very slender branches. Silver Birch trees grow rapidly for the first 20 years or so and reach a mature height of about 25m by 40 years and most trees will die by 80 years. The overall form of different trees can be dramatically different , some with very upright branches and others with branches that droop heavily.
Situation
Silver Birch trees are often referred to as a ‘Pioneer’ and light demanding species since they are one of the first tree species to appear on cleared land where they grow best when not shaded. Birch trees can be seen all over the Forest, in woodland, lawns and the open heathland. In fact they are often considered to be an invasive plant on the open heath as they colonise it so well and change the environment to one of woodland. Birch make good plants in many domestic settings, since they grow fast but do not get over large and the foliage is delicate and does not overly obstruct daylight.
Season/Life cycle
| Flowers | Leaves | Fruit |
| Spring Catkins appear in Spring |
April - October Delta shaped green leaves appearing from April onwards and which can turn to striking shades of yellow before falling in Autumn. |
late summer Tiny seeds surrounded by a circular ‘wing’ produced in vast quantities and distributed by the wind from late summer onwards. |
Uses
Birch twigs have traditionally been used to make hurdles and besom brooms. Being native, Birch is an important food source and provides a habitat for a number of indigenous animal and plant species. Razor strop’ fungus (Piptoporus betulinus) brackets grow readily on dead birch trees and is so named since it was once commonly used to hone cutthroat type razor blades. It is possible to extract sap and make ‘birch bark wine’ and the bark can be used to tan leather.
