Witches, Besoms And Birches

The birch tree is found throughout the country on a range of soils types from wet to dry and peaty to sandy.

It is truly a native tree, being one of the first species of tree to colonise our landscape after the ice retreated from Ireland 10,000 years ago. It also has a long association with our upland and bog landscapes and our cultural heritage.

The birch is a source of food for over 200 species of wildlife and its seeds are popular with seed eating birds. For this reason it should always be included in the mix of tree and shrub species when planting small areas around the farm. Much of our wildlife depends on trees for their survival. Agri-environment schemes provide farmers with the opportunity of planting small areas around the farm, such as field corners.

There are two types of birch growing in Northern Ireland - downy and silver. The most common is the downy birch, which like the silver birch is also known as the ‘Lady of the Woods’, a reflection of its delicate graceful outline, subtle colours of the bark, its fine branches and small leaves that gently flutter and dance in the summer breeze creating an atmosphere of relaxation.

The Gaelic for birch is Beith (pronounced ‘bey’) meaning ‘beginning’ or ‘inception’ perhaps because it is one of the first trees to come into leaf or possibly due to its ability to colonise open wet boggy ground, in the case of downy birch, or drier sandy ground in the case of the silver birch, with quick growing seedlings. The silver birch, in particular, is considered to have sacred powers of renewal and purification and the twigs were used to drive out the spirits of the New Year. This belief persisted into the recent past when delinquents and the insane were ‘birched’ to expel evil spirits.

As the leaves disappear from the birch tree, bundles of twigs appear high up in the branches looking like old birds nests. At the end of the evening when the birds are roosting you will notice that not a bird goes to these ‘nests’. They are not nests, but in fact bundles of small twigs with tiny leaves caused by a fungus. The fungus enters the tree and stimulates abnormal growth at the point of entry. These dense bunches of twigs are also commonly known as ‘Witches Broom’ and in days gone by it was thought that witches flew over the trees and made them appear.

The uses of birch are wide and varied. It was used to brush away dirt and dust in our homes for years. Before electricity and vacuum cleaners, the thin, rough, pliable branches where gathered together and formed into a besom or broomstick for use in the home. Although the birch does not grow big enough for commercial use as timber in this country, it can be used to make tool handles, toys, agricultural implements, plywood and cradles. The sap can be made into birch wine and the leaves made into birch tea. A truly versatile and useful tree!

If you would like further information on planting birch trees contact your local Countryside Management Branch, DARD.