Betula pubescens L., commonly known as downy birch, moor birch, white birch, European white
birch or hairy birch, is native and abundant throughout northern Europe and northern Asia.
The bark can be stripped off without killing the tree and the timber is used for turnery and in
the manufacture of plywood, furniture, shelves, coffins, matches, toys and wood flooring.
The inner bark is edible, in fact, it was ground up and used in bread-making in times of famine.
The rising sap in spring can be used to make refreshing drinks, wines, ales and liqueurs and
various parts of the tree have been used in herbal medicine.
