Dwarf Birch is one of Scotland’s smallest native trees, with historical importance in the Highlands as its roots and stems produce a brilliant yellow dye. It is a deciduous shrub that typically grows up to 1 metre tall, although with heavy grazing, its size is often reduced to under 30cm. It is largely confined to the Scottish Highlands, with small populations in the Pennines and Northumberland, where it survives in highly fragmented populations.
Like many species, Dwarf Birch has suffered from deforestation, overgrazing by sheep and deer and the continual burning of heather moorland to support the hunting industry. Active seed collection and propogation of Dwarf Birch is ongoing in tree nurseries to try and restore montane woodlands and expand their precarious range.
