My name is Fritha, a PhD student with the Centre for Forest Protection. I’m based at the University of St Andrews and I work with colleagues at Forest Research. Working with me for six months is our research intern Jack. We work on mapping values, attitudes and experiences to inform ecological and cultural restoration of “lost” tree species. That can be a bit of a mouthful to explain, so I usually just say I am researching elm restoration – trying to work out who cares, why they care, and what we can do about it.
A mature Field Elm (Ulmus minor) © Madeleine Alison
Our project is gathering perspectives on different routes to elm restoration. This involves interviewing land managers, restoration experts, elm enthusiasts and members of the public in communities where we have a case study. Elm trees are very lucky to have had a dedicated group of individuals looking out for them since the 1960s, when millions of trees began to die from the effects of Dutch Elm disease.
Diseased elms during the twentieth century outbreak of Dutch elm disease © Joan Webber
Some elm enthusiasts, like David Herling and Fergus Poncia, experimented with ways to breed disease resistant elm varieties. Other people have focused on individual tree management (pruning, coppicing), biological control including vaccinations such as Dutch Trig®, or using genetic technology and tree breeding techniques to identify and produce resistant trees. There are lots of options!
Field Elm leaf © Madeleine Alison
Dutch elm disease is caused by a fungus carried by two species of bark beetles. Some places where the beetles and the fungus have not been able to get established, have escaped the worst of Dutch elm disease. Areas in the north of Scotland seem to be too cold and windy for the bark beetles to get to, and areas like Brighton are isolated because of landscape features (the South Downs on one side, the sea on the other). Places like this are very special, because they still have very large, mature elms – the kind that could once be found across the whole country. However, as the climate changes and transport of firewood and timber continue to move infected material, the bark beetles are able to travel further than ever – and so the disease may soon reach these unique refuges.
Leaves and seeds of a healthy Wych ElmUlmusglabra © Forestry Commission
Field elm seeds © Madeleine Alison
We want to talk to people in these case-study communities. We are interested in knowing what people think about losing, restoring and protecting their elm trees. If you live in or near Brighton and Hove in England or Lochinver in Scotland, we would love to talk to you about elm! We are holding drop-in workshops, and everyone is welcome.
On the 4th December, we will be in St Ann’s Well Gardens in Hove. Local residents will have the opportunity to share their memories, hopes and expectations for their trees. We will be joined by another of our interns, Catherine, who is based at Kew. She is creating distribution maps of different elm varieties across the UK and is interested in gaining useful insights from locals and enthusiasts.
On the 14th December we will be in Lochinver, running similar activities at an event in honour of the elm around Glencanisp Lodge, which unfortunately has recently experienced the first case of Dutch Elm disease in the area.
I asked Jack’s opinion about how these events are important for the project. He said:
“Our mapping workshops are an easy and engaging way to share the stories of trees that mean so much to local people, and they will provide a space for individuals to share their experiences and feelings, contributing to a wider patchwork of living memory surrounding elms – whether in Brighton’s parks and streets, or Assynt’s woodlands and hillsides. I’m really excited about running this workshop. It’s a great opportunity for us to piece together what these trees mean to different people, and what can be done at community level to look after them for the future. I think local communities should be at the core of protection and restoration efforts, and these efforts should happen in a way that includes and empowers local people.”
If you are in Brighton or Lochinver, please join us to talk about these amazing elms, and what you think should be done to help look after them.
Event Details
Brighton
4th December 2024, 2-5pm
The Garden Café, St Ann’s Well Gardens, Brighton and Hove, BN3 1RP
Lochinver
14th December 2024, 9am until dark
You can find out more about our project here.
Catherine is working on our project mapping the distribution and diversity of British elms.
If you would like to learn more about elm, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew have recently published a book about the Great British Elm, which you can find in the Kew Shop.
Illustrations © Madeleine Alison
