Leaf photo of a majestic neighbourhood elm.

What better way to celebrate Earth Day than attending a meeting that might save dozens of majestic trees in our neighbourhoods from certain death?
“SAVING OUR ELMS” is being held Earth Day, April 22, at 6:30 pm at McLure Place, 533 Greenwood Place. The event is focused on the elm trees of Wolseley, but offers information and inspiration that could help other neighbourhoods.
“We’ve all seen the orange dot of death on too many elms in our neighbourhood,” explains Pat McCarthy-Briggs of the Wolseley Residents Association (WRA), describing the ravages of Dutch Elm Disease in her community. “But with recent developments in tree care, there is now something that can be done to prevent Dutch Elm Disease!”
The exclamation mark is McCarthy-Briggs’s way of conveying the excitement she and other tree-lovers feel in discovering there is a way to save many trees which, until now, we’ve accepted as being doomed.
She is part of the WRA’s Tree Committee which has been investigating ways the elms can be saved. They have investigated an inoculation procedure which, although expensive, prevents Dutch Elm Disease from killing the tree for a limited period. Two years ago, residents on one street in Wolseley (Newman Street) banded together to donate and raise funds to inoculate seven elms on their street. (See February Leaf.)
The Earth Day meeting will feature some of those neighbours telling their story; information about the inoculation process from an experienced arborist; and the unveiling of a plan to save elm trees on Westminster and Wolseley Avenues. “Westminster & Wolseley Avenues are the gateways to Wolseley and the heart of our community,” explained McCarthy-Briggs. “There are about 150 elm trees on these two streets. They offer shade and are a prized part of the character of our neighbourhood. They create the environment that defines us.
“Each year, Dutch Elm Disease is killing 10-15 of the trees on these streets. At that rate, in 10 years, there will be no elms left on either of these important routes.”
The WRA Tree Committee will present a plan at the Earth Day meeting to save some of these trees.  
It may not be that all trees on a street will be saved, but the hope is that enough trees can be saved that the streets can be a mix of trees – tall mature old elms providing shade and character and a variety of new young saplings planted that, in 30 years, will begin to provide the kind of benefit the older trees provide.
“Preserving as many mature elm trees as possible allows newly planted trees to mature beneath a healthy canopy,” says McCarthy-Briggs.
“We encourage all who love these majestic trees to attend,” she explained. “As well as the plan to save trees on Wolseley and Westminster, you’ll also learn how you can protect elm tree on your property and street.”