One of the basic problems was that it was overrun with sheep, which had "bonsai'ed" the property's ancient wild birches.

WSJ: Scotland's Cawdor Estate

He said he had resigned from his job as cabinet member for economic development, inward investment, sport and leisure but would continue in his role as ward councillor for Birches Head and Central Forest Park.

BBC: Mark Meredith

Freddy scooted for the birches.

BBC: Five days in Russia's Ring of Fire

There was some picketing by the local arts council and some unwelcome, unflattering news coverage, and neighborhood kids who cared nothing about Emily Dickinson or her house started egging the place and draping our noble birches with toilet paper, and for a while there it was like Halloween every day.

NPR: Chapter 1

From the shadow of the garage, I beheld the back yard, with its Norwegian maples, the tilted white birches, the ancient apple tree whose branches touched the windows of the family room, and for the first time, it seemed, I understood the green glory of this acreage as something indifferent to human life and quite apart from the Victorian manse set upon it.

NEWYORKER: Wakefield