How many mature elms survive in the Thornhams?
Written by Stephen Schwarz   
As far as I know there is only one mature elm left in each of the parishes.
They are both hidden away (being surrounded by other trees must be the reason for their survival) and there may be others I haven't spotted. It would be terrific if there were others so please tell us if you know of any.
The Parva's specimen is at the north end of the Walled Garden car park:
elmparva.jpg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Magna's is in our garden near the north east corner of the churchyard:
elm1.jpg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Until a few years ago there was also a fine specimen on the Gisligham road beyond the Walks. Sadly a Dutch Elm Disease beetle found it and it is there no more.
Please do go and look at the remaining two while you can. Inevitably they too will soon be destroyed by the disease.
 
 
Comments
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EChandler   |2008-10-20 14:00:46
My comment re elms in the village forum!
NMerriam  - Not quite mature.   |2008-11-12 19:21:11
My father planted Jim's Wood in the spring of 1969. It is on the left as you approach Starhouse Farm at the end of Clay Street. It is about three acres and it serves as a memorial to my brother Jim who died in a car crash aged 18. The main trees are oak and beech, but it was also planted with european larch and Douglas fir as a nurse crop to keep the oaks and beech straight! The theory is that the softwoods are harvested at 60 years and the hardwoods are left for much later. When I came to live here in 1974 I took over the care of the wood and spent many hours in there cutting the briars and also planting other species for fun. At an early stage I noted the odd elm runner that had sprung up from a nearby mature elm. The original elm has since died but one sapling has survived. Next year it will be 40 years old. It is a perfect specimen and 45ft high. Each spring I check to see if it is still thriving, always expecting it to have been affected by Dutch Elm Disease. It stands high, proud and straight, surrounded by other species. Maybe it is not mature.. but it is a fine specimen...
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