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1

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Betula pendula
Materials derived from birch are used in the pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic and chemical sectors. Worldwide 240 different pharmaceutical products contain silver birch. The leaves are used for urological treatments, mouthwashes, treatment of the alimentary tract and in cardiovascular applications. They are used dried, as extracts or as an essential oil. Birch tar oil is used in skin applications for the treatment of psoriasis and eczema. A chewing gum made from the bark is used in dental hygiene. Intravenous solutions containing xylitol from birch sap are used medically. In the food sector the sap is used in the production of fruit wines. Highland Wineries uses some 3800 gallons of birch sap per year. Also from the sap, a sugar, xylitol, is extracted, and is used as a natural sweetener by diabetics. In the cosmetics industry the sap and leaves form a basis for shampoos. In the chemical sector a tar oil produced from birch is used in the treatment of leather, in photography, and in insect repellents. The tar oil is derived from the stem bark of the tree by destructive distillation. The majority of the plant material currently comes from Eastern Europe and Russia and is marketed through Germany to German end users. Very little use is made of birch raw material in these markets from Highlands and Islands sources other than in fruit based wines.

Bibliographic reference: Highlands and Islands Enterprise (1995). Identification and development of markets for products of plant origin from the Highlands. HIE, Inverness.

2

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Betula pendula
Materials derived from birch are used in the pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic and chemical sectors. Worldwide 240 different pharmaceutical products contain silver birch. The leaves are used for urological treatments, mouthwashes, treatment of the alimentary tract and in cardiovascular applications. They are used dried, as extracts or as an essential oil. Birch tar oil is used in skin applications for the treatment of psoriasis and eczema. A chewing gum made from the bark is used in dental hygiene. Intravenous solutions containing xylitol from birch sap are used medically. In the food sector the sap is used in the production of fruit wines. Highland Wineries uses some 3800 gallons of birch sap per year. Also from the sap, a sugar, xylitol, is extracted, and is used as a natural sweetener by diabetics. In the cosmetics industry the sap and leaves form a basis for shampoos. In the chemical sector a tar oil produced from birch is used in the treatment of leather, in photography, and in insect repellents. The tar oil is derived from the stem bark of the tree by destructive distillation. The majority of the plant material currently comes from Eastern Europe and Russia and is marketed through Germany to German end users. Very little use is made of birch raw material in these markets from Highlands and Islands sources other than in fruit based wines.

Bibliographic reference: Highlands and Islands Enterprise (1995). Identification and development of markets for products of plant origin from the Highlands. HIE, Inverness.

3

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Betula pendula
One of the Findhorn Flower Essences, made by the Bach sun-infusion method. Flower remedies are taken to 'encourage positive qualities and to address emotional, psychological and soul issues'. Several drops are taken directly under the tongue or in a glass of water and sipped throughout the day. They can also be added to bathwater, creams and lotions and applied topically or sprayed around the house. Keynote vision. Birch helps to broaden our perceptions and transcend mental limitations. Through expanding our consciousness and seeing the bigger picture we gain understanding and peace of mind. Birch frees our imagination and gives us hope for the future.

Information obtained from: David Steel, Findhorn Flower Essences

4

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Betula pendula
Despite its graceful appearance silver birch is one of Britain's hardiest trees. Its pale smooth timber is a hardwood whose uses include plywood production, brush backs, toys and reels. On a lesser scale the twigs are cut to make besom brooms and horse jumps. In the past its sacred properties made the birch useful for expelling evil spirits from delinquents.

Bibliographic reference: Forest Enterprise (1998). An Easy Guide to Forest Trees and their uses.

5

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Betula pendula
In Scotland, stands of true birch woodland can maintain themselves. According to J. C. Loudon (1840s) Birch, or 'birk' is one of the commonest place-name prefixes. He also says: The Highlanders of Scotland make everything of it; they build their houses, make their beds and chairs, tables dishes and spoons; construct their mills, make their carts, ploughs, harrows, gates and fences, and even manufacture ropes of it. The branches are employed as fuel in the distillation of whisky, the spray is used for smoking hams and herrings, for which purpose it is preferred to every other kind of wood. The bark is used for tanning leather and sometimes, when dried and twisted into rope; instead of candles. The spray is used for thatching houses and, dried in summer, with the leaves on, makes a good bed when heath is scarce. Nowadays, it is used as a source for birch wine (especially popular on Deeside) and for smoking haddock. In Kirkudbrightshire, in the village of Dunscore there is a house called Letterick. The owner died recently and asked to be buried upright near a birch tree, to which he said he would return to perch on as a crow to keep an eye on things.

Bibliographic reference: Mabey, R. (1996). Flora Britannica. Sinclair-Stevenson, London.

6

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Betula pendula
At Moniack Castle birch wine is made from the sap of silver birch. The sap is tapped from trees on the estate by the company themselves, otherwise someone might sell them water or diluted sap, ruining the wine. The sap is harvested in March, when it is rising in the tree. A hole is drilled in the bark and a cork and tube inserted. Each tree produces about 2 gallons. The sap is fermented for 6 weeks in plastic drums, the sediment left to drop, the wine is filtered and then matured for up to 1 year. After more filtering and cartridge filtering to remove all remaining yeast, the wine is bottled and corked. In 1997 500,000 bottles of birch wine were produced. The same trees are tapped every 2 years and this has been done for 20 years now. So far this doesn't seem to affect the trees.

Information obtained from: Jonathan Garden, Moniack Castle, Highland Wineries

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