The Downy birch is a medium-sized deciduous tree that owes both its common name and scientific name to the hairy or pubescent twigs. This is the commonest birch in Britain, the species most often found in wet and boggy ground. Although it can be found growing anywhere.
Downy birch was historically an important source of wood for fuel, charcoal and small wood products, particularly wooden bobbins. It was not seen as a timber tree and the increased use of plastics saw it fall out of general use. There is increasing interest in the potential for birch as a productive forest species. Unfortunately, birches are still considered a weed by most foresters and often an invasive by ecologists particularly on lowland heaths. There is a growing understanding of the silvicultural requirements of birch and its potential to play an important role in future forestry.
Its bark is waterproof and leading to it historically being used as roof shingles, sewn into buckets & baskets, and in the construction of boats and canoes. It is rich in tannin, which tans animal hides to a soft leather. If heated carefully it extrudes a gum, and the Mesolithic people of 7000 years ago used this unlikely material to fix flint arrow-heads to arrows.
Birch woods (which may include downy or silver birch, or both) have a light, open canopy, providing the perfect conditions for grasses and wildflowers. Birch provides food and habitat for more than 300 insect species – the leaves attracting aphids which provide food for ladybirds and other species further up the food chain. The leaves are also a food plant for the caterpillars of many moths, including the angle-shades, buff tip, pebble hook-tip, and Kentish glory.
At Trebrown Nurseries we maintain our own registered select seed stands on Trebrown Farm, which remain the only seed stand registered in Cornwall. Betula pubescens is a FRM controlled species.
