Kermath, BM et al. (2013) Food plants in the americas: a survey of the domesticated, cultivated, and wild plants used for human food in north, central and south america and the caribbean. A sugar company in Finland extract xylitol from birch sap to use as a sweetener, which contains 40% fewer calories than sugar (sucrose). Xylitol is used in diet foods, chewing gum and may help to prevent tooth decay.

Wooden shelf, made of wood, with a natural birch trunk, for books, made of natural wood, forest, twigs Similarly, in parts of Somerset, Ashen Faggot Night was celebrated, where ash replaced the birch. Divinations were made according to the burst and snap of the willow, hazel or green ash bands around the log as it swelled in the fire. Because green wood was used, it would have made quite a loud noise when it did snap. A toast would be raised to the snapping of bands, and the festivities would continue. Linked but distinct from this, Welsh folk looked to their shadows cast by the Yule log from the fire, looking to see who would appear on the walls as headless shadows. Those that did were destined to die. A life demands a life. A gift demands a gift. Soot for the De’ils breakfastThe birch is a tree often associated with death. To dream of pulling the ‘birk sae green’ portends death in the ballad, ‘The Braes o Yarrow’. A wand ‘o bonny birk’ is laid on the breast of the dead in Sweet William’s Ghost. In Somerset, there is a legend where ‘the one with the white hand’ (a birch it is believed) was a spirit haunting Taunton Moorland. Rising up out of the scrub of birch and oak, it drifted up to lonely travellers so fast they could not escape. She was deadly pale and wore clothes rustling like dry dead leaves. With her hand resembling a blasted branch, she would point a finger at your head and send you mad or put her hand on your heart, stopping it dead. Today I gathered some oak twigs and ahorn twigs, the oak I haven’t drank jet, but the ahorn tastes somewhere in between chocolate and coffee.

Vintage Blossom Twig White Flowers Peps Spray for Wedding decorations, bridal crowns, Floral Arrangements, home décor, crafts Contrary to what the name suggests, a birch rod is not a single rod and is not necessarily made from birch twigs, but can also be made from various other strong and smooth branches of trees or shrubs, such as willow. [1] A hazel rod is particularly painful; a bundle of four or five hazel twigs was used in the 1960s and 1970s on the Isle of Man, the last jurisdiction in Europe to use birching as a judicial penalty. [2] Warren, P. (2006) British native trees: their past and present uses?: including a guide to burning wood in the home. Dereham. Wildeye.With links to protection and fertility, and the ability to heal skin diseases and be used for building canoes, it’s a fascinating tree. The birch tree is the ‘lady of the forest’ with its silvery bark, elegant white boughs and delicate leaves. After having read and tried this easy and very tasty method of making twig-tea, I started experimenting with different trees. In ancient times, birch bark was often stripped and rolled to make torches and used as a substitute to paper. Birch twigs were also used to make brooms.

Birch twigs 150 pcs.,Birch twigs bundle,woodland wedding,birch branch,wedding decor,twig wreath.decorative twigs.tree decor.Set of 1 bundle Though nature is at its lowest ebb at Yule, we still find a way to bring the power of the landscape in to our homes and communities. Ash and birch are central and essential to the Yule celebration. Though emphasising different elements of life and death and perhaps holding different levels of cultural importance in Scotland and England. This Yuletide maybe bring a little of the protective magic of birch and ash into your home. Not only for the light and warmth but also to keep alive a tradition with roots far deeper than any tree. References & Further Reading

Twigs are drooping and smooth, with dark warts. The shoots of Silver and Downy birch can be used to tell them apart. Silver birch shoots are smooth with warts, whereas those of Downy birch are rough, warty, and covered in short, downy hair. Silver birch leaves are said to contain vitamin C, flavonoids, tannins and other plant constituents. Birch Recipes

Always one of the earliest trees to burst into leaf, the birch was considered to be the tree of youth and new beginnings. It was felt that birch rods would drive out the spirit of the old year. In early summer, Beltane fires were kindled from birch and oak, and a birch tree – often living and still rooted in the ground – was sometimes chosen as a maypole. Hi Lizzie. Like Peter I am becoming obsessed with reading your interesting blogs but also with learning so much about nature that I was never aware of. I wish I had had this hunger for learning when I was at school. Who knows where it would have taken me. I am 67 now, onward and upward I say! Can’t wait for your next blog. Such a lovely way to learn. There are two main Birch trees in the UK, the Silver birch Betula pendula and the Downy birch Betula pubescens. The Downy birch tends to grow better in wetter areas and in the north. The Silver birch likes drier soils and is often found growing ornamentally in gardens and cities. Another device used to immobilise offenders was a birching table, used in Scotland, with two holes in it through which the offender's arms were inserted but otherwise left free and untied. The offender's feet were tied into position and a strap fastened immediately above the waist. [5] The belief that birch switches would drive out evil spirits probably explains their use in the corporal punishment dealt out to naughty schoolchildren – and more serious offenders – for many centuries. Witches’ brooms or besoms are usually constructed of birch twigs lashed to a handle of hazel. (Not that I have one myself!)Paine, A. (2006) The healing power of Celtic plants: their history, their use, and the scientific evidence that they work. Winchester: O Books. There grows a really tasty pinetree near me, and this makes a very citrus-like tasting tea which also makes you happy and full of vitamin C. The Isle of Man caused a good deal of controversy by continuing to birch young offenders until 1976. [8] [9] The birch was also used on offending teenage boys until the mid-1960s on the Channel Islands of Guernsey and Jersey.