Birch sap rising near me

[dwardo]

Its dripping from the branches like rain here..

 

[John Fenna]

Flowing nicely in the North West of England now, only took 50ml or so just to try it before plugging the hole back up. Almost tasteless I thought.

Aye - to get the full flavour it needs to be reduced 1 gall = tiny bottle of syrup - or made into wine

 

[Radix lecti]

Tapped some yesterday,plan to do a bit more tuesday.

Darren

 

[Bushcraftsman]

I havent had chance to get out and do any yet! :'( the nearest birch trees from me are a good half hour walk away hoping saps still pumping at the weekend..whens it going to end...roughly?

 

[offroadmick]

Not tasted birch sap... i'm gonna pop out and try it on Saturday....

Just found these on fleabay.... Did a search and they seem to be great value for £5.50 delivered. I ordered one anyway because I love having all the kit!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SCOTCH-EYED-A...983?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19c3d5c08f

 

[sxmolloy]

Is there an eye at the end of that Auger to pass a stick or piece of metal tube/pipe through to help when drilling the trunk?

I have been using something like this recently, and passing a stick through the eye to use as a handle when drilling it in / out of the tree trunk.

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/17867/Fixings/Hooks-Eyes/12g-55mm-Eye

 

[offroadmick]

Is there an eye at the end of that Auger to pass a stick or piece of metal tube/pipe through to help when drilling the trunk?

There is an eye on it for a stick... click the link and you'll see it in the picture.

 

[sxmolloy]

click the link and you'll see it in the picture.

I did Mick, I just couldn't tell for sure if it was solid or there was an eye present.

 

[offroadmick]

I did Mick, I just couldn't tell for sure if it was solid or there was an eye present.

Well Its arrived today and i'm well happy...
£5.50 delivered, wax coated, brand new and sharp. Its a pigeon brand, made in sheffield by Morrison ltd.
It's quite a bit bigger than i thought it would be....
Heres a few pic's....

Shaft markings:

Covered in wax:

Size next to an F1:

Big eye hole:

Cant go wrong for a fiver!

 

[sxmolloy]

I'm convinced, now I'm off to ebay, cheers Mick

 

[outpost31]

Too cold in sw scotland yet no sap, we had snow again yesterday.Looking forward to it though,nothing like it for mixing with a nice malt.

 

[JDO330]

I shall get out at the weekend with the kids and see if it flowing in Hertfordshire. Got a fair few Birch trees nearby, looking forward to it.

 

[Gibbo]

Anyone know roughly how long it would take to fill a 2ltr bottle - the trees I have in mind are 12 to 18" diameter if that helps? Is that asking too much from one tree?

Gibbo.

 

[The Big Lebowski]

I've only done it once last weekend... But if you get a good drip going, it filled a 2 litre coke bottle between 7pm and 10am the following morning.

this was from a very thick tree though.

It was plugged as soon as the bottle was collected.

al.

 

[backwoodsman]

like a tap near lincoln

 

[Gibbo]

I already have a gallon of wine fermenting - and collecting sap for the second gallon now!
Then it will be a third gallon for syrup!

Hi John - do you have a recipe/ method you want to share for making the wine? I'm off to collect my sap right now.
Regards,
Gibbo.

 

[John Fenna]

My favourite recipe is from the Roger Philips "Wild Food" book - there are some realy good recipes there!

 

[Gibbo]

My favourite recipe is from the Roger Philips "Wild Food" book - there are some realy good recipes there!

Thanks John.