In the 1970s Dutch elm
disease swept through the British countryside,
killing the majority of elms, many of which were
centuries old. More than 20 million trees are known
to have been affected by the disease, which is
carried by a bark beetle.
Our first newsletter can
be found on our 'News' page and a PDF version can be
accessed directly from
here.
Why we
are here...
A few years ago an elm
was discovered near Pershore that appeared to be
immune to Dutch elm disease. Following the discovery
of the elm, John Clarke from Kemerton Conservation
Trust and Bob Hares, Royal Horticultural Society
advisor to Pershore college, successfully took
cuttings. In February this year the first saplings
were planted at King George's Field, Pershore.
The project was
subsequently televised by the BBC news programme -
'Midlands Today' early in March. The programme
asked anyone who thought they might know the
whereabouts of a disease-resistant elm to contact
Kemerton Conservation Trust via their website. The
four reports that were broadcast produced an
overwhelming response from the public, with reports
of disease-resistant elms being found in over 15
counties.
What we
are doing...
One of the first tasks
that the project faced was to produce a framework
that would allow the team to manage the
project effectively. The main requirements of the
framework are to:
-
Record and maintain
key data received from the public and other
sources identifying potential elms
-
To encourage a
network of RELIC groups within counties, taking
in groups who have already carried out research
and grown some young trees, groups who could
take local cuttings to grow on so that locally
sourced plants are available. (Local, district
and regional councils, wildlife trusts, farmers'
groups, horticultural colleges and growers would
be welcomed as partners)
-
Co-ordinate with
local 'knowledgeable experts' who will validate
sightings
-
Raise funds to
encourage project continuity without unnecessary
hardship
-
Encourage local
support for the project, whereby cuttings taken
can be grown-on and planted by local councils,
volunteers and possibly commercial growers
-
Finally, record
where young trees are planted so that they can
be monitored as they are re-introduced into the
countryside (it will not be possible to
determine if the young trees are
disease-resistant until they are approx 15-30
years old)
A database has been
developed to capture the information received and
will be used as the tool to allow the above
requirements to be managed effectively.
