Birch Tree

&nbsp There are two different types of birch tree native to Britain: the Silver Birch (Betula pendula) and the Downy Birch (Betula pubescens).

The Silver Birch
is a elegant, graceful tree with a characteristic slender, straight, silvery-white trunk and pendulous branches.

The leaves are alternate and thin with ragged edges and smaller teeth between larger, main teeth, the base of the leaf being straight.

The silver birch can grow to be around 50ft though some may reach a stunning 100ft!

The Downy Birch
Like the silver birch, this tree is a native to Britain. The bark is usually a red-brown colour but can be silvery. Unlike the silver birch it's branches do not commonly droop and the tree is round-headed and thrive in wetter soils than it's counterpart.

The leaves are toothed and stalk is slender and hairy. The base of the leaf is triangular and they are more even in size that the silver birch.