Elms

Once common across the rich farmed soils of middle England, this elm was ravaged in the late 20th Century by Dutch Elm disease. Despite its name there is still debate over whether this elm is a native species or was broght here by Bronze Age farmers.

This species was raised in a Huntingdon nursery c.1760. It has some Dutch Elm Disease resistance, so remains occasional in town parks and some hedges.

One of the closely related 'field elms' the smooth leaved elm has been much reduced by Dutch elm disease. Although because it can reproduce by seed some saplings are showing resistance to the disease.

Wych elm is a native woodland tree found mostly in the northern areas of Britain. Sadly, most large and old trees have been lost to Dutch Elm disease.