Fifty years after Dutch elm disease wiped out over 25 million trees in the UK, The Conservation Foundation is attempting to unlock the mystery of why some trees survived.

Cuttings taken from mature parent trees found growing in the British countryside – which appear to have resisted Dutch elm disease for over 60 years – have been skilfully micro propagated. The resulting saplings are being distributed to hundreds of schools, community groups, local authorities and private landowners who have signed up to take part in the ‘Great British Elm Experiment’ .

Participants in the experiment are being asked to log their tree’s progress over the long term (up to fifteen years) on our specially developed ‘elm map’.

Left: Kjalt Wilmar, Anna Eperjessy and Kate Macleod planting one of the first elms at the Ringwood Waldorf School.

 Height, girth, biodiversity and any signs of disease are being recorded and it is hoped that – with time - and good luck – a new generation of elms will become established throughout the country and a new generation of young people will be encouraged to have an interest in elms and biodiversity. The project also heralds hope for the White-letter Hairstreak butterfly, below, for which elm is the sole food plant.

 

This exciting project has been launched during the UN’s International Year of Biodiversity. Partners in the project include MicroPropation Services, Millhouse Nurseries, Alba Trees and Trees Direct.

 

There is still a chance to join in. If you would like to take part in The Great British Elm Experiment please email us.

Saplings are being offered free to schools and small local organisations, and at a modest cost to others. Each small tree is accompanied by a certificate showing its parent tree and type and schools will also receive a poster with growing tips and project ideas.

Left: The first batch of saplings leaving Mill House Nursery where they were grown by Martin Day, left, for despatch to schools. The picture shows project manager Alison Nicholson with Conservation Foundation David Shreeve, right and Richard Beamish of Trees Direct.

 

 

“We want to interest a new generation in the elm, so much a feature of the British life and landscape for centuries and also to try and find out why some trees survived Dutch elm disease. So many have disappeared over recent years that we can only hope to replace some. But rather than just give up and forget the elm, we think it’s worth a try.” David Shreeve, Director, The Conservation Foundation.

Read David Shreeve's review of Wych Elm edited by Max Coleman.

The Great British Elm Experiment is supported by The Berkeley Reafforestation Trust and The Yorkshire & Clydesdale Bank Foundation. The propagation stage was supported by funding from the Tubney Charitable Trust.