The Silver Birch

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Pioneer Trees

At the most recent session of the adult forest school I attend, we spent some time appreciating silver birch trees. So much so, that I decided to dedicate today’s blog post to them.

Silver birch trees have been around for some 10,000 years. Known as a pioneer species, the birch was one of the first type of trees to begin growing in northern areas – including Britain – following the last Ice Age. Today, they continue to be among the first trees to grow in otherwise unpopulated places. Land destroyed by fire will begin the renewal process with the growth of silver birch trees. Land previously used for agricultural purposes, will be regenerated through silver birches. Nitrogen fixing nodules on its roots help to bring nutrients to soil, preparing it for other species to grow.

Its pioneer properties led the tree to be seen as a holy tree by Pagans, Druids, and Celts. Used for purification and renewal, silver birch is used in new year rituals. Bundles of birch twigs are used to drive out the spirits of the past year. People use birch besoms to purify their gardens. The tree is also a symbol of love and fertility.

Silver birch trunk

Habitat

Reaching up to 30 metres tall when mature, the birch is recognisable through its white bark and triangular shaped leaves with serrated edges. From April to May, trees grow both male and female flowers, catkins. The yellow-coloured male catkins hang in groups of two to four at the tips of shoots. Smaller green female flowers grow upright. After pollination, the female flowers grow larger, and prepare their seeds (numbering up to one million) for windborne dispersal.

Birches create a light and open canopy, which provides an environment suited to grasses, wood anemones, and bluebells. They offer habitat to over three hundred types of insects, various fungi, and hole nesting birds such as woodpeckers.

Uses

The wood of the birch tree is strong and solid, and used for furniture and toy making. Peeled carefully (ideally from fallen branches) bark is a useful fire starter. Over time, the bark has also been used as paper, and textiles for clothing. But if the trunk is girdled, (the bark is peeled in a ring all the way round), the tree will die as water and other nutrients are prevented from flowing freely.

Finally

  • The scientific name for the silver birch is ‘Betula Pendula’
  • The silver birch is sometimes called ‘Queen of the forest’
  • It is the national tree of Finland
  • The silver birch doesn’t live as long as some species, having an average lifespan of 60-90 years

There are many places with information about trees, and other species. A couple of my favourites are the Woodland Trust website, and the Wildlife Trusts site.