Birch trees are often called the “Lady of the Woods”. But don’t be misled by this tree’s name for it is a real toughie!

During the break between Christmas celebrations and New Year I visited a whole collection of these beautiful birch trees on the edge of Dartmoor.

Trees up there on the edge of Dartmoor need to be hardy to survive!

This collection of ‘Ladies’ are of course birch trees. And in winter they look their very best.

I guess they got their nickname since they look dainty and lady-like. Especially when growing among stouter oaks, ash and other native hard wood trees.

But seen en masse, as they can be at Stone Lane Gardens, you can easily see why birch trees are such a popular garden and landscape tree.

 

Kenneth Ashburner

This is no ordinary collection of birch trees. It is a collection gathered together over 40 years by the late Kenneth Ashburner.

His interest in these trees is the basis of this remarkable tree collection. It has rightly been recognised and given National Plant Collection status.

Birch are very widely distributed around the globe. Ashburner traveled widely to both study and, just as importantly, bring those trees back to his collection a mile or two from Chagford in Devon.

 

Lots of birch trees

You might think that if you’ve seen one birch tree then you have seen them all. But a visit to this collection will soon dispel that thought!

With over 1000 trees there and almost 70 different types you can soon appreciate the differences that these hardy trees exhibit.

I was particularly struck by the variation that there is within just one species.

The Himalayan birch [Betula utilis] shows just how variable it can be with bark colour from darkest brown right through to ghostly white.

I’m told that this species is brown at the western end of its range but becomes white the further east you travel. How about that for finding your way in the mountains?

Betula utilis grows from northern Pakistan through Nepal, Tibet, Sikkim and Bhutan and well into China. What’s more it gets whiter as you travel east!

What I found impressive about Stone Lane Gardens is that each species is planted as a tiny grove of trees. This grouping effect is dazzling!

Birch trees are among the very first pioneer trees to recolonize an area. Consequently they can cope in the garden with relatively poor soils.

 

Alder trees too

Kenneth Ashburner also collected and planted alders in this garden and these have also become a National Tree Collection. Alders are another key pioneer tree species and can often cope with very wet or poorly drained soils. At the time of my visit the alders did not look their best. But very soon they will start to produce long yellow catkins which are not dissimilar to hazel catkins.

 

Other reasons to visit

A visit to this 5 acre garden at any time of the year will be rewarding. However a visit in the next few weeks will be especially worthwhile.

Alongside is a very small nursery where birch trees can be bought. And so if you fall in love with a particular coloured tree it is worth inquiring whether they have it.

Trees there are small but that shouldn’t deter you.  Birch are quick growing. And at least a small tree will fit in the car with the kids and dog!

During the summer and autumn there is also an outdoor sculpture exhibition among the birch and alder trees.

The garden is open every day throughout the year and more details of the garden can be found at here.

Towards the end of winter snowdrops fill some gardens and I’ve blogged about another West Country garden with plenty of snowdrops here.