Elm Study Day – Friday 8th July 2016
The reasonable weather on the 8th of July saw some 70 delegates from the South East Branch of the Arboricultural Association and London Tree Officers Association meet for an Elm Study day in Brighton, home of the National Elm Collection.
Delegates heard the welcome and opening address by Rob Walker, Brighton and Hove Senior Parks Manager.
The first paper of the day was given by Rob Greenland who for 46 years had been involved with the city’s treescape. The paper ‘Against the Odds’ gave a light history of the arrival and survival of the Elms in the area despite the ravages of Elm disease and the effects of the 1987 Hurricane force winds both of which caused devastation across southern England.
Next, Alister Peters, himself with substantial links to the city’s trees gave a paper on the ‘Importance of People Power’ how pressuring the experts and authorities to encourage them to act over subjects which they might not have previously become involved with. Alister cited the work of the ‘Save the Elms’ campaign group in the early days following the arrival of the virulent strain of Elm Disease as an example.
Peter Bourne who has assisted the city’s Parks Department with submissions for the National Elm Collection gave an overview of some of the trees of particular interest contained within the collection and highlighted the collaboration of Ray Evison, a previous Parks Director and Hans Heybroek, a Dutch Botanist who cloned many Elms with variable degrees of resistance.
The morning session concluded with Jim Hillier of Hillier’s nurseries, giving a paper on Ulmus ‘New Horizon’ that has developed over nearly fifty years to its current status of being virtually free from Elm Disease contamination. Part of the ‘Resista’ Elms programme the tree was shown thriving in many locations and conditions. The talk certainly made most want to look at this cultivar for an introduction into areas where Elms have not been considered for many years.
Lunch was superb and special thanks go to David Archer Associates who sponsored both the venue and the refreshments.
The afternoon saw a walking tour of Preston Park presented by Rob Greenland, viewing many named Elms with the highlight for some visiting the 400 year old English Elms the Preston Twins said to be the oldest surviving Elms in the World.
Delegates heard the welcome and opening address by Rob Walker, Brighton and Hove Senior Parks Manager.
The first paper of the day was given by Rob Greenland who for 46 years had been involved with the city’s treescape. The paper ‘Against the Odds’ gave a light history of the arrival and survival of the Elms in the area despite the ravages of Elm disease and the effects of the 1987 Hurricane force winds both of which caused devastation across southern England.
Next, Alister Peters, himself with substantial links to the city’s trees gave a paper on the ‘Importance of People Power’ how pressuring the experts and authorities to encourage them to act over subjects which they might not have previously become involved with. Alister cited the work of the ‘Save the Elms’ campaign group in the early days following the arrival of the virulent strain of Elm Disease as an example.
Peter Bourne who has assisted the city’s Parks Department with submissions for the National Elm Collection gave an overview of some of the trees of particular interest contained within the collection and highlighted the collaboration of Ray Evison, a previous Parks Director and Hans Heybroek, a Dutch Botanist who cloned many Elms with variable degrees of resistance.
The morning session concluded with Jim Hillier of Hillier’s nurseries, giving a paper on Ulmus ‘New Horizon’ that has developed over nearly fifty years to its current status of being virtually free from Elm Disease contamination. Part of the ‘Resista’ Elms programme the tree was shown thriving in many locations and conditions. The talk certainly made most want to look at this cultivar for an introduction into areas where Elms have not been considered for many years.
Lunch was superb and special thanks go to David Archer Associates who sponsored both the venue and the refreshments.
The afternoon saw a walking tour of Preston Park presented by Rob Greenland, viewing many named Elms with the highlight for some visiting the 400 year old English Elms the Preston Twins said to be the oldest surviving Elms in the World.