Elm Trees in Whitchurch

There must have been lots of elm trees in the village in the past. They would have been a common sight 200 years ago, growing in the hedgerows, standing alone in fields or even in groups. They were still around quite recently, some of our older residents may well remember them

The old photograph below might give you a flavour

There have been many references to elm trees in Whitchurch (and probably widespread across the parish) over the years:

o The Three Elms pub on the common
o Elm Farm on Ty’n-y-Parc Road (where the Tesco petrol station is now)
o Numerous newspaper reports of the time
o Parish council reports on the Library Gardens and also old St Mary’s Graveyard

We don’t see elm trees now; they were all killed off by Dutch Elm Disease in the 1970s

They were so common in earlier years, self-seeding and suckering, growing to a height of 30m (100 feet) and living for 3-400 years. Many of our local elms mentioned in the late 19th century newspapers could well have been growing in the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, and maybe even earlier!

Elm wood was very versatile for our carpenter ancestors, constructing chairs and stools, table tops and of course coffins. With so many elm trees about, there was always a local source available

A newspaper report of September 1903 notes that ‘an old elm tree – a landmark in Whitchurch Common for nearly 200 years – has come to grief during a gale’. Growing in the early 1700s, would this have been one of the group of prominent elms adjacent to Ararat Church which lent its name to the pub opposite? The Three Elms pub was first mentioned in 1810, so the trees must have been an important landmark back then

There are various reports to the parish council dating from 1926 until 1961 noting that numerous old elm trees growing in the hedgerows around the Library Park (then the Recreation Ground) needed surgery or removal. These reports are fascinating. It seems that over the years a total of 4 elm trees were removed and another 14 were lopped/pollarded. There are none there now, so nearly 20 mature elm trees were in the hedgerows just around the park.

In 1949, and ancient elm tree in old St Mary’s graveyard was reported as ‘in danger of falling’, so needed to be removed. It too has gone

There must have been many more instances of these wonderful trees in the village, but we’ll probably never know now

There was once a magnificent avenue of elm trees in Cathays Park, alongside the City Hall. They were planted in 1897 by the Marquis of Bute. I used to park my car under these incredible trees when I worked in town. I can clearly remember them all being cut down because of the Dutch Elm Disease, it was heart-breaking! Even though they were ‘youngsters’ at 70-odd years old, they formed an incredible canopy along that grand boulevard. I’m told that in Cardiff alone, over a thousand elm trees were lost because of the disease

Apparently, Cardiff celebrated ‘Cardiff European City of Elms’ in 2005, and planted 100 disease-resistant elm trees in Pontcanna Fields. I don’t think any were planted in Whitchurch

Perhaps with Coed Caerdydd, and the renewal of interest in tree planting in the city, Whitchurch ought to plan for replanting some of these new disease-resistant elm trees around the village

Who knows, perhaps in 200 years’ time, people will say how forward-looking our ancestors were in restoring such splendid forest trees in our village. It’s a wonderful thought

What do you think?

 

Postscript
Did you know that in December 1937, a commemorative oak tree was planted in the Library Gardens to celebrate the coronation of King George VI. This is the very large oak tree immediately behind the library today

 

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