Great British Elms: The remarkable story of an iconic tree and its return from the brink is a celebration of the British elm and offers positive hope for its future. Since the 1970s nearly all elms in the British Isles have proven to be susceptible to outbreaks of Dutch elm disease, in particular the eponymous English elm. Millions of trees were lost, their new summer skeletal forms disfiguring the countryside and townscapes quite dramatically. The beetles carrying the disease as fungus spores spread very quickly, often advancing as far as the wind and the temperatures would allow.
However, the elm was not lost forever. Among all this sudden death and destruction, unnoticed by many, some elms survived the onslaught. This is the story of their recovery. The authors provide a first-person narrative throughout with contributions from leading figures in the story of the elm, including Kew’s Tony Hall, Caroline Lucas MP and Geraint Richards, Head Forester Duchy of Cornwall. Through these narratives we learn about the efforts of those who have been intimately involved with the elm, often unnoticed and unappreciated. From conservationists working to propagate and plant new species of elm and find disease-resistant trees, to specialist furniture makers utilising elm’s unique properties, this book provides a full picture of the British elm today.
The book also covers the history of the elm in culture, folklore, art and literature, and the many different varieties of elm growing today in the British Isles. Illustrated throughout with stunning photography of these beautiful trees by Sam Ford, in this book the authors have created a pictorial and historical record of the elm and offer hope for its future.