It is also used to make besom brooms, the archetypal witches’ broomsticks upon which they were said to fly (maybe due to the consumption of Fly Agaric mushrooms that typically grow beneath Birch trees in Autumn).Į is for Eadha (pronounced ‘EH-ga’) and is associated with AspenĪspen is seen as a symbol of endurance, courage and the overcoming of obstacles.

According to Scottish Highland folklore, a barren cow herded with a birch stick would become fertile.īirch bark was used for tanning leather whilst Birch wood is tough, heavy and straight-grained, and was historically used to make infants cradles, cabinets and furniture. The Birch is known as a ‘Pioneer Tree’ meaning that it can restart the colonisation of woodlands after long term natural disasters. As Birch is one of the first trees to come into leaf it would be an obvious choice as a representation of the emergence of spring.

Known as ‘The Lady of the Woods’, in Celtic Mythology Birch represents purification, change and new beginnings, femininity, grace, purity, family connections, protection, healing, new life and rebirth. Welsh longbows too, were often made from Elm, whereas English longbows were more commonly made from Yew.ī is for Beith (pronounced ‘BAE-yh’) and is associated with Birch (particularly Silver Birch) Elm is also the material that coffins were traditionally made from. Like Scots Pine, hollowed out elm has previously been used as water piping before the advent of metal water pipes. However, like Alder it does withstand water very well, so it has been popular in making boat hulls, bridges and wheels. As wood from the Elm is very flexible it consequently does not make a good material to construct buildings from. This refers not to witches, who were said to shun Elm trees, but refers to its flexibility taken from an Old English verb meaning ‘to give way’. The kind of elm that grows most widely in Scotland is Wych Elm. In ancient Celtic tree lore, the Elm is intimately bound up with death and the transition into the Underworld, whilst evergreen Fir trees were associated with the healing of a person’s inner soul. These tall straight trees are associated with perspective and height. A is for Ailm (pronounced ‘A-lum’) and is predominantly associated with Elm, but also Pine and Fir

Ancient gaelic font