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Elm Disease
Brighton & Hove has been internationally renowned for its work to manage Elm Disease [PDF 314kb] since the 1970s. This has culminated in the city having the largest stock of Elm species, cultivars and varieties in Britain.
This has been recognised by Plant Heritage who awarded Brighton & Hove the status of holder of the National Elm Collection in 1998.
In continuing to combat elm disease, the city works closely with its neighbouring local authorities as part of a larger regime of control.
Look out for the elm disease management signs at the approaches to the city, located at:
How do we control elm disease?
To control elm disease, the Arboriculturists need to have a working knowledge of both the beetle and the fungus that spread the disease. The control measures that are used each year are designed to limit the growth of the beetle population. Keeping the beetle numbers low has a direct effect on the number of trees that are infected.
Control of elm disease is achieved by the following methods:
How can you help?
The success of the elm disease control programme is dependent on many factors, and not all are technical. You can play your part in saving the local Elms by:
- reporting any tree that has leaves turning from green to yellow or brown or having a scorched look during the growing season
- reporting any dead trees at any time of year
- reporting unhealthy trees in your own garden. If these prove to be Elm trees, all necessary work will be carried out by the council at no cost to you
- not buying logs for winter fuel if the supplier cannot guarantee that the wood is not Elm. If you have already bought logs and are uncertain what they are, we would be pleased to inspect them for you. In the event that the wood is Elm, we will dispose of it and give you a similar quantity free of charge
- not bringing Elm timber into the city for use as garden ornaments, seating or logs