Birch Ballet

This silver birch has been tilted by the prevailing wind from the west. I was talking about natural poses in people yesterday; this tree seems to have a balletic pose. I'm reminded of vintage school radio programmes:

'Now children: pretend to be a tree; you're standing tall, spreading your branches in the sky . . . that's right, wave them gently in the wind . . . '

This birch has the mime to perfection.

' . . . and, relax!'

The diamond-shaped scars on the bark of silver birch are a distinctive feature. Downy birch, another native birch that occurs, less commonly in West Yorkshire lacks these diamond scars and it doesn't have the pendulous branches that go so well with the balletic pose of this silver birch.

Sycamore

Sycamore

Hazel