‘Lord of the Rings’ tree joined by wych elm seedlings

Dutch elm disease is a fungal infection spread by tiny bark beetles. It can rapidly wither and kill healthy trees.

The disease arrived in the south of England in the 1960s and since then it has spread across much of the British mainland, massively reducing the elm population.

In recent years it has been moving west through Aberdeenshire and Moray and into the Highlands, but it was hoped that the lower density of elm trees, cooler climate and prevailing winds would slow down its progress.

In 2018, warm weather was blamed for speeding up the spread of Dutch Elm Disease in the Inner Moray Firth area of the Highlands.

Last year, a tree believed to be Europe’s oldest wych elm fell down after succumbing to the disease.

The Beauly Elm – which was believed to be almost 800 years old – had stood at the entrance to Beauly’s ruined priory.

References to the tree have been found in records going back to medieval times.