About this Wych Elm

Wych elm mainly survives in northern and western Scotland, beyond the range of Dutch elm disease, which has destroyed so many elms elsewhere in Britain.

Wych elm mainly survives in northern and western Scotland, beyond the range of Dutch elm disease, which has destroyed so many elms elsewhere in Britain.


Wych is from the Saxon wice, which means pliable. Elm timber is flexible, strong and rot resistant and so had many traditional uses including; boat building, making drains and troughs, wheel hubs and longbows.

Elms have easily recognised foliage, with a distinctive asymmetrical leaf base.

(Image by Gavin Harris)

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