Eggar’s Eco Warriors join Alton Town Council to plant disease resistant trees trial in Anstey Park
On Wednesday 28th January students from Eggar’s Eco-Committee joined Alton Town Council to plant 40 disease resistant Elm trees in Anstey Park.
The students were not deterred by the heavy rain, icy winds nor the vast amount of mud, whether it was their love of trees and the environment or the fact they were missing their maths lesson.
They planted each tree with enthusiasm and will be able to watch them grow over the years, taking pride in the knowledge that they have not only improved Anstey Park for wildlife and nature but have also taken part in the Hampshire Forest Partnership’s disease resistant Elm tree trial.
The English countryside was once dominated by Elms, stately giants that watched over our landscape, providing a beauty of form and grace unique to these glorious trees. Since the 1960s, they have been ravaged by Dutch Elm disease, a disease that was accidently introduced to Europe in the early 20th century. The disease is caused by a pathogenic microfungus carried by two species of elm bark beetle and has killed nearly all the mature elms in Britain, an estimated toll of 60-100 million trees.
The elm was historically one of the six major trees within our woodlands, widely used in landscaping and hosts more than 80 species of invertebrate, including several rare moths and the now endangered white-letter hairstreak butterfly.
The 40 disease resistant Elm trees that were planted in Anstey Park were donated by Hampshire Forest Partnership. Who are trialling several different elm varieties that have been developed by specialised breeding programmes. Initial findings suggest these cultivars can resist the disease and establish well. The planting locations are being mapped to help record future growth patterns, ability to resist the disease and how well the elms support biodiversity and nature recovery.
‘Re-Elming’ Hampshire will provide a huge support to wildlife that relied on this once ubiquitous tree. You can find out more about the trial and see how you can get involved from the Hampshire Forest Partnership.
www.hants.gov.uk/landplanningandenvironment/hampshireforestpartnership
