Elm
Not so long ago, the Elm stood as a rival to the Oak in shaping the landscape of Britain. Then in 1927 Dutch Elm disease (actually French in origin) hit.The initial outbreak was not severe but when it returned in 1967, it killed 5 in every 6 trees.
Just as we thought it was on the wane, it struck anew in 1990 and is still prevalent. Thus we have been deprived of the wonderful silhouette of the majestic Elm on our horizons and also of its incredibly durable timber.
Elm is one of the few timbers that can be left immersed in water and show almost no sign of decay. Indeed it was this property that made it so widely used for ship keels and cladding, water wheels, piling for bridges and even underground water pipes! Some of the pipes laid in London in 1613 were excavated in 1930 and found to be still intact.
Like Ash and Oak, Elm has a coarse grain but is much darker in colour. It has the most wonderful figure, with chocolaty browns swirling into remarkable patterns. Some of the finest burr wood comes from Elms and reaches high prices for veneers and cabinet making.
