News Excerpt:

Elm trees have been dying in the UK since the 1960s, but they might be making a comeback.

More About News

• Elm trees used to be everywhere in the UK countryside. The trouble started with Dutch elm disease.
• This fungal disease, spread by the elm bark beetle, arrived in the UK in the early 20th century.
• A stronger strain of the disease came in the 1960s and wiped out most of the UK’s 30 million elms.
• Elms survive by producing suckers—new stems that grow from their roots. Even if a tree dies from disease, new stems grow and replace it. This cycle allows elms to continue living, even though they often stay in a sort of “perpetual adolescence.”
• While these young elms show great resilience, efforts are being made to bring back fully grown elm trees.

New Elm Varieties

• Since the mild strain of Dutch elm disease, global efforts have been made to create disease-resistant elms.
• Breeding programs in the US, Netherlands, Italy, and Spain have produced several varieties that can resist even the stronger strain of Dutch elm disease.
• These new trees are made by crossing European elms with naturally resistant Asian species like Siberian or Himalayan elm or by cloning resistant European elms.
• Across the UK, elm enthusiasts import and look after new disease-resistant varieties.

Revival of Elm Tree

• Only breeders can propagate and sell their own varieties of elms, which means UK nurseries cannot take cuttings and sell their own trees.
• Dr. David Herling tried to solve this problem by creating a patent-free, disease-resistant elm that couldn't be sold for profit.
• A recent Guardian article highlighted Herling’s work and discussed new elm varieties as part of a reintroduction effort. This effort aims to bring back a species that people thought had disappeared, even though millions of elms still survive.
• Elm trees have had a tough history, but there is hope. The dedication of many people and the resilience of the species make its survival possible.