'Terrific demand' to restore elms

The first batch of young US elm trees arrived in January

A nursery has said it has had "terrific demand" for a type of elm tree it is importing from the US to help restore the species to the English landscape.

A virulent strain of Dutch elm disease has wiped out millions of elms since the 1970s. By the 1990s, 25 million of the trees had been felled after dying.

Knoll Gardens, near Wimborne, Dorset, has started importing Princeton elms, a US species which can resist the fungus.

The fatal disease is carried from tree to tree by elm bark beetles.

In January the owner of Knoll Gardens, Neil Lucas, flew 1,500 young elm trees into Gatwick Airport.

Millions of trees succumbed Neil Lucas Knoll Gardens

He had orders for the saplings from all over the UK, including from Prince Charles, who bought six trees for his Highgrove estate.

Mr Lucas is now shipping larger trees into the UK for his second batch, which he said were "able to provide an instant impact when planted".

"Many gardens and private estates have lost elm trees to the ravages of Dutch elm disease since the 1970s," Mr Lucas said.

"Millions of trees succumbed. The Princeton elms we are importing are proven to be incredibly tolerant of the disease, and although they have a larger leaf than our classic tree, they have an equally beautiful shape, making them ideal for planting either as specimen trees or in avenues.

"When I first discovered Princeton elms in the US it seemed obvious that this tree both could and should take the place of our missing elms.

"I am truly delighted that so many people seem to agree with me."

Dutch elm disease remains the most destructive tree disease and only a few scattered areas around the UK have escaped the virus.