Tuesday 28 April 2009

Birch Spirit



Some of the birches on Blacka are so resplendent with catkins that the leaves are insignificant in their appearance. There is one to be seen from the terrace walk thankfully spared by the tree surgeons that's worth a special trip to see.

Five years ago SWT appeared with cans of poison and applied it to a large number of mature birches. I remember counting to 70, then started to worry I might count some twice and giving up. The trees were left standing where they had been attacked but since then several have fought back putting out some rather pathetic leaves in an admirable show of spirit. Most, though, have died some still standing and others now lying on the ground.

Let that be a lesson to them. Management must be obeyed. The picture below shows some of each only the alder having been completely spared.


Didn't the Russians create a potent drink from birch sap? - or was it simply a brand name for vodka? Must look it up on google.

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