11th July 2022

‘The Future of the Elm Tree – Restoring Elm to the Landscape conference,’ held at Kew Gardens in June, brought together a number of the Foundation’s elm experts both in person and on-line.  Kew has a number of fine elms from around the world and David Shreeve, who chaired the opening session, encouraged  delegates to use the opportunity to visit them whilst in the gardens.

The conference was organised by Sir Harry Studholme, a one-time Chair of the Forestry Commission and a self-confessed elm buff, who has planted a number of what he hopes will be resistant elms, including several from Italy and Spain, in his Devon forest.  In his introduction of David, Sir Harry said, ‘I am so very aware that whatever we can achieve for elm in the future is based both on the hard work of the past and also many of the initiatives The Conservation Foundation has encouraged to ensure that it is not forgotten as an important British tree.’

The Foundation’s own international elm expert Gordon Mackenthun had travelled from Germany and was able to present David with details of a European White Elm he had sponsored in the Foundation’s name in the Bach Forest being planted on the shores of Lake  Störmthal, south of Leipzig.  To complete Gordon’s visit David introduced him to one of London’s greatest trees, the mighty Huntingdon Elm in Marylebone High Street.

The Conservation Foundation Heritage Tree programme

The elm project is part of The Conservation Foundation’s Heritage Tree programme, created to celebrate our 40^th Anniversary.

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