Has anyone checked if sap is rising?

[Dan J]

I tapped some birch trees a couple of years back, think it was about half way through march. Normally the sap is in flow before there are any signs on the outside. Might be worth trying now. Just break the end off a twig and if a drop of clear sap appears you're good to go.

 

[spandit]

I've been stabbing trees like some sort of psycho but nothing dripping yet...

 

[Bushwhacker]

Oh God! It's that time of year again. Essentially the bushcraft equivalent of everyone banging on about pancake day on facebook.

 

[fatsnacka]

hi first 2 weeks of spring i believe

thanks

 

[Harvestman]

Dunno about sap but the cherry trees here all broke into blossom over the weekend.

 

[The Big Lebowski]

Oh God! It's that time of year again. Essentially the bushcraft equivalent of everyone banging on about pancake day on facebook.

Pancake in your single malt, you might be on to something there

Checked today, nerp. I would expect a good month yet, but curiosity got the better of me.

 

[Dan J]

Checked a birch tree today and it doesn't seem to be rising. i'm in south shropshire so i guess that in south wales it would be the same for you, unless its a bit warmer where you are.

 

[munkiboi182]

nothing in north norfolk yet. tried over 3 locations this week

 

[NikolaTesla]

Hmm, I'll give it a few days, thanks guys.

 

[VFR800Essex]

Was out today and nothing rising in Essex. Did notice it was pretty dry and that was after a days rain yesterday.

 

[spandit]

IT'S FLOWING!!

Is in East Sussex anyway... Need to collect some now & hope no-one nicks my bottle

 

[spandit]

Well, set my bottle up & left for an hour

Came back to find about an eggcup full. Drank it & was a bit disappointed - perhaps I need more & should distill it down. Quite refreshing, though

 

[SussexRob]

Get in! That's great news Spandit, I'm camping up at Broadstone with my Explorer Scouts this weekend. I was hoping I'd have a chance to collect some, looks like I will!

 

[monkey boy]

nice one, im gonna go out in the weekend and try my luck  great work spandit

 

[spandit]

If I'd been more prepared I would have taken a small plastic bottle and tied it around the tree - less valuable then (not that my £-shop bottle is worth much more, but the net I'd made took a while and I'm used to having it around now!)

I'll set some more up and leave for a few days to see what I can collect

 

[dwardo]

Its flowing here quick knife point test and its running like a dripping tap.

 

[hedgerowpete]

i went out today and installed my 30 , one gallon plastic jars on my different trees favoring maple and walnut this year as i still have a load of birch sap fizz still left over so only want a little birch this year

 

[monkey boy]

silly question, can birch sap go off?

 

[spandit]

silly question, can birch sap go off?

I'd say yes. It's basically sugar water but not that strong so I'd imagine it's quite a good environment for growing bacteria/mould

 

[NikolaTesla]

I'll be tapping birch and maple, I'm not really sure about field maple? I think field maple is the tree with dirty bark and smaller leaves than sycamore...anyway birch you couldn't ever mistake...