Birch tree diseased, or just old?

[Blutack]

I took these photos last weekend of a tree near Coylumbridge (Aviemore).

What do you think folks - is it a disease that's caused the bark to become pitted like this, or is it just really old?

 

[JonathanD]

Looks old to me. Probably become like that due to exposure to the elements. Difficult to tell without seeing the land that comes with it.

 

[robin wood]

Perfectly normal for the bark to break up like that as they age. Not all do.

 

[JonathanD]

I love the nobbly bits on those old trees, I had a brilliant 4ft oil painting of a tree like that, unfortunately it was left on the front wall of an ex girlfriend

 

[bushcraftbob]

Wow i think that looks really pretty never seen one that gnarly before!

 

[QDanT]

I love the nobbly bits on those old trees, I had a brilliant 4ft oil painting of a tree like that, unfortunately it was left on the front wall of an ex girlfriend

Is she still bricked up

 

[JonathanD]

Is she still bricked up

Oh if only

 

[Chinkapin]

Sounds like you left in a hurry! lol

 

[Blutack]

Thanks Guys, We thought maybe it had seen Ray comming, and REALLY didn't want to end up as a canoe!

 

[silvergirl]

Thanks Guys, We thought maybe it had seen Ray comming, and REALLY didn't want to end up as a canoe!

Thats why we can't make birch bark canoes in this country, cause the big ones usually end up cracking, and even the younger ones have flaws in them which makes them unsuitable. Sadly

 

[JonathanD]

Bet that tree would be a nightmare to tap.

 

[Whittler Kev]

Is she still bricked up

Priceless

 

[treelore]

i would say that it may be more than just old age, any fungi or deer about ? and what is the canopy like?

fantastic pics

 

[Blutack]

Plenty of deer about I should think, but I didn't see any fungi (snow still lying). Hard to tell how healthy the growth was as no leaves at the moment, but the tree was definitely still living.

 

[Matthew.Passmore]

Just an old boy. keep an eye out for the Birch Polypore which only grows on dead and dying Birch trees

 

[treelore]

just check with a mate, yep it`s just a old tree..... fantastic tree and some great pic`s, thank you for sharing them with us..

 

[SOAR]

Just an old specimen the bark goes like that with age, took a 40ft one down once and the bark was like that till about 12ft up.

 

[Melonfish]

yup thats normal on silver birch, there's stuff round here 30-40 years old and they all show some signs of this. pretty common tbh.