Birching Rods (43)

I was just wondering if anyone has any experience of being birched with a proper, old-fashioned collection of birch twigs, and if so, what they thought of it?

Also, how did you go about getting the birch twigs? Is there anywhere to buy birch twigs from online or in Manchester? Or does anyone have a birch tree in the garden that they would be willing to collect some twigs from?

Many thanks for any and all information.

subbie xxx

Edited Mon 14 Jun 10, 10:02 PM by subbietrouble

Regards,

Tanos

www.tanos.org.uk
www.bridgewood.org.uk

Yes, if a Spray Birching is what you mean?

Bl**dy painful!!! It's my own fault 'cos those I was with were talking about it in terms of awe and I happened to mention it being "just a bunch of twigs". IT IS NOT!!!

Collected whilst walking in the countryside. All done from established trees and properly pruned.

Don't know about birch "twigs" but I do know of an online store for thicker, heavier birch rods if a manx birching is what you're looking for...

BTW, I should add that I am NOT a switch/sub/bottom so never take - this was an experiment with trusted friends...

After the SWISH, comes the THWACK and the pain...
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Tepees wrote: Yes, if a Spray Birching is what you mean? ... Don't know about birch "twigs" but I do know of an online store for thicker, heavier birch rods if a manx birching is what you're looking for...

Yes, I think it is the 'spray' of twigs I'm looking for. I've been told that the thinner twigs need to be used while there is still sap in them, which probably makes them difficult to buy online. I'm an absolute idiot with nature and have really no idea how to recognise one tree from another. Do you think there are any established woodlands or nurseries which would sell them on?

subbie xxx

Edited 14 Jun 10, 10:56 PM by subbietrouble

I want the nodules! Yes, I am a crazy masochist lol. That's what I've heard about birching, that it can cut the skin very easily, which is sort of what I'm after, for a one off. Might not be saying the same thing afterwards lol.

subbie xxx

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betula_pendula

You can also use a downy birch, but those can be a little harder to identify.

There's no point being grown-up if you can't be childish sometimes.

You just need to use the right wood (as above). You need an armful of wood about a metre long for a full size one. Lots of manchester's parks have birch trees. I think including the one near me.

You also need string, cutters and something to make the handle from so no delicate sadists hands are damaged - wide florists ribbon is good, or if you want to be fancy try real ribbon. Bear in mind they don't last very long as you need to stop using them when the wood loses it's suppleness and will begin to just fall to bits after a few days. It makes quite a good post play gift for someone's wall. They can be prolonged by swooshing them in salt water but - well making them is more fun. And so is sending someone to get the wood they will be making friends with later.

It doesn't have to be bloody or severe. It's all a question of perspective - I don't think they carry that much pain in their own right (was a bit surprised by this), it's the build up and technique which causes pain. I certainly haven't made anyone bleed with one - it is important to cut the wood right though.

Now if you want PAIN like OMG I think the best thing is apple switch - take the soft furry baby twigs from where they grow out of sites where branches have been cut off in the past. Just one of those is enough to make someone very sorry.

The sad news about apple is these take a million squillion years to grow so there's none left on my tree. If anyone has a big load of apple with similar twigs I'd be very interested to hear

De

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Edited 15 Jun 10, 9:29 AM by Degenerate

Degenerate wrote: I can show you how to make one sometime - will skill swap for a bundle of birch - Miss Prim taught us last year . Wonderful. You just need to use the right wood (as above). You need an armful of wood about a metre long for a full size one. Lots of manchester's parks have birch trees. I think including the one near me. You also need string, cutters and something to make the handle from so no delicate sadists hands are damaged - wide florists ribbon is good, or if you want to be fancy try real ribbon. Bear in mind they don't last very long as you need to stop using them when the wood loses it's suppleness and will begin to just fall to bits after a few days. It makes quite a good post play gift for someone's wall. They can be prolonged by swooshing them in salt water but - well making them is more fun. And so is sending someone to get the wood they will be making friends with later. It doesn't have to be bloody or severe. It's all a question of perspective - I don't think they carry that much pain in their own right (was a bit surprised by this), it's the build up and technique which causes pain. I certainly haven't made anyone bleed with one - it is important to cut the wood right though. Now if you want PAIN like OMG I think the best thing is apple switch - take the soft furry baby twigs from where they grow out of sites where branches have been cut off in the past. Just one of those is enough to make someone very sorry. The sad news about apple is these take a million squillion years to grow so there's none left on my tree. If anyone has a big load of apple with similar twigs I'd be very interested to hear De

*Guiltily eyes up the apple tree in her father's back garden...* Apple you say...any apple tree? It's getting too big so I bet he wouldn't mind if I said I needed some twigs for, er, some unknown reason....

I would be more than happy to skill swap. I think I spotted a silver birch on my way home today but the branches were all very high up. Will try and keep my eyes open for anything that resembles one.

subbie xxx

Making A Birch

The Birch was a fearsome item for the correction of young wrongdoers, much used in England before the arrival of cane from the Pacific. These days we may do well to re-aquaint ourselves with these old-time methods, which I can assure you are still just as effective!

First gather your twigs. The Hairy Birch, Betula Pubescens, is better than the more commonly known Silver Birch, though Silver Birch works well enough to be effective, as will hazel, ash, sycamore, and other similar broad-leaved trees. (The leaves and bark of the Hairy Birch are very similar to Silver Birch, differing only in that the bark is copper coloured and the twigs are finer - which is why it is best.)

Do not use the twigs from a weeping variety, they will just fly apart on first application. Never use an evergreen, a fir, spruce, yew, etc. They all have poisons in the leaves to discourage grazing animals.

Cut a sackful, length about a yard or so. Strip most of the leaves off by pulling them through your hands. Leave a few, they are a good indicator of freshness. Too many and they slow the birch as it is swung through the air. Take a stripped twigs. Look at the curve on it. Line up the tips. Take another and put them together so that the curves cancel out as close as you can see. Add another on the same principle until you have enough. Only experience will tell you how many is sufficient; generally it will be more than 5 and less than a dozen, with a total weight of 3 - 8 oz. Take two yards of string. Tie the mid point of the string tightly around the mid point of the twigs. Take one end of the string and wind tightly about the bundle down toward the butt end. Tie off after just before you pass the butt end of a couple of twigs. Cut the rest off, so that all the butt ends are about the same length. Take the other end of the string and wind up towards the tip, getting slacker as you go; about halfway to the tip put the string through the bundle and wind back in the opposite rotation, making the turns tighter as you go, tying off at the mid point, where you started. You now have an effective birch that will work. They are often actually of birch, or similar twigs, which makes for a 'spray' of fine twigs. There is also the type using a bundle of thin, straight, branches, making a 'rod'. The latter were often of willow withies (leader shoots from a pollarded tree), apple-wood (leader-shoots again) at Winchester School, also hazel and many others depending on availability, suitability and time of year.

You may soak your birch in water first, or brine, vinegar, etc. both as an antiseptic, preservative of the birch and because it stings if the skin is cut. The Birch is best applied on the exposed bottom but it will cut the skin. It is best used fresh and can be preserved awhile by being kept standing with the butt end in water. If you must use a birch on more than one recipient I recommend, sterilising it in boiling water between each person.

Compiled for The Birching Block by Mrs E Rosenthal

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