Disease in the copse

As featured in The Hovarian magazine, August 2025.

Once again the contractors were busy in Three Cornered Copse this month to perform some essential work to combat the scourge of our forests, Dutch elm disease.

The work was significantly less dramatic than the removal of our diseased ash trees three years ago, but it was still distressing to see the trees taken down to stumps and removed for destruction at the council’s control sites. The fungus can also spread underground between root systems, and some work to dig out the roots is often needed. This was done a few years ago in the copse, but clearly it’s not always successful.

Dutch elm disease is caused by a fungus (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi) and is spread by the elm bark beetle as they migrate from tree to tree. The disease was imported, not from the Netherlands, but from North America, where it devastated the tree population of Canada. The geography of our city meant for many years the beetle was prevented from infecting our trees due to the prevailing winds that kept the beetles north of the downs, and the salty air which inhibited the insects becoming established. However in later years outbreaks in Brighton and Hove have become more common, thought to have been exacerbated by wood fire owners bringing in diseased elm logs to burn, after being stored outside.

Our city still boasts a collection of some 17,000 elms, and is recognised as a centre for excellence in controlling the disease. However there are perhaps fewer than last month. due to the work in the copse.

In mid-July we were in the middle of our third 2025 heatwave. To escape the heat try heading off to the cool of the copse, which is a shady retreat in these temperatures. Often the air temperature can be several degrees below ambient. which is essential to reduce the water loss from the woodland. “Forest Bathing”, known by the Japanese as shinrin yoku, is a process of relaxing by spending time in a natural environment, such as a woodland. It has been shown to be useful in de-stressing. increasing mindfulness. and lowering blood pressure. At the very least, the copse is a cool place to walk with dogs when the heat starts to rise and make exercising uncomfortable.

On our next work day we hope to tackle the overgrown bridleway, which again, in places, has become impassable. Keep an eye on our Facebook page and website for details.

Simon Baxendale