Lots of elms

We all know about how the English Elm (Ulmus procera) has nearly disappeared from the countryside since the 1960s, because of Dutch Elm disease.  It is now more common in hedgerows rather than a full grown tree, or you might see it as a sucker in a hedge.  There is a tree and several in hedges in Ovington – can you find them?  If you know of a resistant one, please add it to this map.

Similarly the Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra) has also been affected.  It is the food plant of the white-letter hairstreak butterfly.

Dutch Elm disease is actually a fungus, spread by beetles.  The winter trees (shrubs!) almost look like TV aerials.  You might be more likely to see one of these in the north of England than the English Elm.  Ever wondered about the roots?  There is a beautiful set of illustrations of many tree species and their root patterns here.

Meanwhile the Field Elm (Ulums minor) is more resistant.  Technically it isn’t native to the UK – a native species means whether it was known here before the last ice age or not.  There is a debate as to whether the Romans introduced them.  What have they ever done for us, eh?

It gets more complicated!  The latest guide to elms lists 62 species in England!  Modern science has split the family into 62!

All is not lost.  Various elm trees from the Cambridgeshire / Bedfordshire area have mysteriously escaped the disease – and in 2019 volunteers started collecting the seeds to be grown on, and they have been planting out young saplings during lockdown.  Read more about the project here.

Meanwhile, a dairy farmer in Wiltshire is helping to grow on resistant Wych Elm imported from Spain – his story was featured on Farming Today recently.  Listen again here.