ImagineReality

Joanie thanks for that.

I did think of trying to keep some lower branches but i also wanted to thicken the trunk, especially trying to develop a flare at the base. I thought allowing it to grow tall and sway in the breeze should help this. I did actually pinch the last years growth back and it still dropped it's lower branches and grew an enormous amount.

As far as i am aware birch back bud extremely quickly, i will try and encourage lower growth before i cut it down by doing an intial cut to reduce the height and take off some of the branches. I think this would be the best way of encouraging back budding but others can comment if i'm wrong.

Two years of thickening should get the trunk nice and thick, although i think at the current rate of growth just one year may be enough. I'm glad you like the proposed shape, i think it will work well with the birch, especially once it turns silver, which should happen probably when it's nearing completion.