The annual Urban Tree Festival is a week packed full of exciting events, mainly in the South of England, but also Northern Ireland and even Utrecht in the Netherlands.
Connick Tree Care sponsored the ‘Introduction to Brighton and Hove’s Elm Trees’, a walk discovering the Elm Trees in the area, conducted by Elm expert and arboricultural Consultant Alister Peters.
Brighton and Hove is home to approximately 17,000 Elm trees, many of which were planted in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Numerous examples of these heritage elms can be seen in Preston Park and Valley Gardens, although you don’t have to stray too far from the Brighton Pavilion area to see some beautiful specimens.
You can see Alister Peters explaining how these trees are regularly inspected and pruned to keep them in good health.
As well as maintaining the trees in the city and surrounding areas, Connick Tree Care has worked with Brighton & Hove on their overall tree strategy.
Mike Connick, Managing Director, says, “We preserve and maintain trees every day of the week, but it’s extremely special to play our part in the ongoing care and health of The Elm Tree collection. It’s one of a kind.”
The residents of Brighton have their own part to play in the health of the Elm Tree collection as Elm disease remains a constant threat, requiring continued vigilance and management to keep the disease at bay.
Councillor Anne Pissaridou, Chair of the Council’s Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, has appealed to the local community: “Elm disease is fairly easy to spot if you know the signs and what to look for.
We’re asking you to become an extra pair of eyes and help flag up any trees – on both public and private land – you believe may be infected.
We can then take immediate action to inspect the tree, and if infected, remove it and stop the disease spreading.”
To find out more about the Elms, watch the video and hear from local and international Elm experts as they shine a light on the National Elm collection in Brighton and Hove.
