Wych Elm

About a year ago, I discovered a grove of trees I could not identify in my local woodland. How odd. This prompted some urgent research.

I discovered they are Wych elm (Ulmus glabra) trees. What a discovery!

No wonder I didn't recognise them. Dutch elm disease wiped out the majority of England's elm trees in the 1970s. In fact, this disease has ravaged a whole range of elm trees across the world. I remember, as a young child, when the truly magnificent American elm (Ulmus americana) specimen in my front garden in the USA succumbed, such a heartbreaking loss.

Since my recent discovery, I've kept a close eye on this grove of local wonder. They must possess some form of resistance to either Ophiostoma novo-ulmi, the fungus causing Dutch elm disease, or to infestation by elm bark beetles, vectors of the disease.

Back in May, I decided to ramp up my safeguarding of this 'sacred grove' one step further by collecting some of the delicate, almost confetti like, seeds for propagation. I showed them in my polytunnel by simply sprinkling them onto the surface of some general purpose compost in a seed tray. I had no idea if they needed light or not to germinate so I vaguely covered half with a light dusting of coco coir and simply left the other half uncovered on the surface. Of course, I watered all of them in well.

Unexpectedly, they germinated with ease. I kid you not, in less than two weeks, and to my gleeful delight, the majority of them had roots and shoots. I quickly potted them on. Now look at them. 

Today, I planted them out into one of my raised beds, cleared of onions, now acting as a nursery for these little gems. 

Where will I plant them you might ask. To be honest, I have no idea... I'm sure time will reveal an answer.