Battling Dutch Elm Disease

Friends of Catton Park have funded a new woodland project. The location, just outside the picnic area to the West, is being planted up with trial *Dutch Elm disease resistant trees, including a mixture of other woodland species, supplied as whips.

I spent a day with Matt and Tabby erecting fences around the beds to protect them in this open area. The project will also include some larger Oak trees (60-80cm).

*Dutch Elm disease is caused by a fungus (O. novo-ulmi), which is spread by elm bark beetles. The epidemic arrived for a second time in the UK in the late 60's, killing millions of trees.

Elm bark beetles breed in the bark of cut, diseased or otherwise weakened elm trees then disperse to healthy elm trees where they feed. As they feed, spores of O. novo-ulmi are introduced into the xylem (channels for water and nutrients) of the healthy tree, releasing toxins and causing the vessels to block and the tree to wilt and die.

Unfortunately, all the existing Elm trees in the park will eventually succumb to this disease, so it's hoped that this new trial will produce a more resilient species.

The beginning of February 2025 was marred by news of a break-in. Several items, costing thousands of pounds, were taken from the workshop and shed in the Lodge's compound. Power tools, ride-on mower and a large trailer were stolen. Although these were insured, it has badly affected the day-to-day management of the park, and there will be ongoing costs to tighten up security 😡. 

Anyway, moving on....

A good way to keep warm on a cold winter's day. All wood this time, including some old pallets which were chopped into manageable pieces...

The middle of the month saw us planting more trees for the new woodland project. There were a mix of Spindle, Beech and Apple, plus the larger Oak trees previously mentioned. We also added a few left-over Woodland Trust whips.

The grassy mound by the picnic area car park was becoming damaged by excavating dogs We all know dogs love to dig holes, but this particular mound has bulbs planted in it. 

So, after filling in the holes and adding further soil, it was necessary to protect the area. That resulted in a mornings work, including erecting a fence around the mound.

 

But hey, we have a lot of parkland, so plenty of other places to dig holes?

Not really. In general, this can be hazardous, especially when the grass is higher and the holes become concealed. This unfortunately could result in a trip or sprained ankle.

That means a further task for the parks management team to check and fill them as necessary. 

My last post mentioned the Ivy covering the walled enclosure in the Deer Park. We spent the afternoon starting to clear as much of this as we could, mainly the larger clumps growing along the top of the wall.

 

This is a major task. The sheer weight and the extensiveness of the Ivy will have weakened the bricks, some of the coping has already become dislodged.

 

Well, a great start anyway.

Keep a look out for my next post in a few weeks time. It's never a dull moment, well not for me anyway!