Let’s work together to bring back elm trees
Near Cork, particularly on the Coachford side, there are substantial trees up to 50ft in height. What a shame if they were to be wiped out again.
There are also many healthy trees in isolated places - west of Goleen and Castletownbere, as well as in many other sites - that need to be recognised and protected. It is possible to keep elm disease at bay with hygiene-felling and burning of all diseased branches.
In addition to preserving existing trees, there are also resistant species of elm bred around the world that we can introduce: plants are now available in Ireland.
Elm timber is more valuable now than at any other time in history. Farmers could have a long-term sustainable income from elm timber from their hedgerows, and forestry would benefit from widening its range of broadleaf planting to include the elm. There are no broad-leaved trees as wind-resistant as elm. One species, the Wych Elm (Ulmusglabra) has been native to Ireland since the Ice Age.
To anyone interested in the future of the elm in Ireland, we extend an invitation to an open meeting at Creedon’s Hotel, Inchigeela, Co Cork, at 3pm on Tuesday next, November 2. And if you have seen any healthy elm trees, please contact us.
Mike Collard
Julia Eisele
The Elm Project
Friendly Cove
Durrus
Co Cork
Ph: 027 61132 or 027 66176.
