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                                           Birch (Betula Spp).

 

       

 

We have 3 species of Birch: Silver, Downy and Paper.

 

I have never been able to get any one of them to coppice successfully; so I have come to regard them as completely useless as a coppice species. I cut down about 30 trees as a test and only around 4 or 5 showed any signs of regrowth and even those died after a couple of years. All that I have to show for my efforts are lots of hidden stumps waiting to trip me over.

 

Although I have read recently that Birch should be cut very young in order to coppice successfully: "the trunk should be no thicker than your wrist".

 

I am not sure that I believe this, but if I ever find a young self-set sapling I will give it a try.