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Our work with Elm trees

Elms are a significant tree species in Brighton and Hove because the city is home to the National Elm Collection.

A third of the trees in Brighton are Elms and many of these are historic – having been planted by the Edwardians and Victorians.

Elms are a beautiful and ornamental tree, ideal for coastal towns because of their tolerance for salty air and wind. Sadly we have lost (and continue to lose) many of these precious Elms due to Elm Disease – a fungal disease that has been wreaking havoc on our city’s treescape for years.

Elm disease can kill a healthy tree in a matter of weeks and last year (2025) the council had to remove 60 trees that had died.

How we work with Elms

Through our ‘Plant Your Postcode’ project we are supporting communities to vaccinate their healthy Elm trees. Last year (2025) Brighton & Hove Council successfully vaccinated 1500 Elm trees and we want to see this scheme go further!
Where we have seen trees lost to disease we are supporting community groups to raise the money to replace these trees.

Click here to find out more.

Help to protect our elm trees from disease

Elm logs can carry the fungus and elm bark beetles that spread deadly elm disease. Many of our treasured elm trees have been lost because of log pile infections.

To help protect Brighton & Hove’s elms make sure the logs you are buying are not elm.