Can I take this limb/branch off my Silver Birch?

[MrBig]

In the processing of tidying up the bottom of the garden and I’d like to create a bit more room to the right of the silver birch. Can I take off the branch highlighted?

(Apologies for my crap editing skills )

If so, do I just go with the usual slightly over vertical cut and is there any time of year when I should avoid making the cut?

Thanks all.

[MrBig]

55palfers said:

Yes.

I'd take the whole limb off

I did think about that, but I don't want to harm the tree and I wasn't sure if that was too much.

sherman said:

You have missed your oppurtunity to do such a prune.
You can only really do that sort of pruning in winter.
Its also bird nesting season and you dont want to go disturbing any nests.

The tree will regrow from the cut just to warn you.

Ok, so I need to wait till October/November now?

Road2Ruin said:

I'd do a spot of weeding while you are at it

Tell me about it Most of them have just appeared in the last 10 days from nowhere, gardening this weekend!

Thanks all.