Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust has teamed up with pupils from Caereinion High School to launch a tree-mendous fightback.
Dutch elm disease wiped out over 20 million elm trees in the UK during the second half of the 20th century and it has subsequently thrown other species into crisis.
And with no signs of the pandemic waning, only a handful of fully developed elm trees remain in Wales, including one in Llanfair Caereinion.
And now science students from the local high school are working with Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust to bring back more elm trees to the area.
Clive Faulkner, Head of Future Nature at Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust, said: “A few trees are still surviving and Llanfair Caereinion is proud to have a magnificent specimen. The landowner, Mr Andrews, has kindly granted us access to the tree. We believe these survivors to be naturally immune to the disease and are keen to understand how we can enhance and safeguard the numbers of them in the area.”
Elms are very difficult to grow from seed but there is an answer, according to Mr. Jones, from the High School, who said: “Our A level science students will clone new trees. As part of their studies they will use laboratory micro-propagation techniques to create over 100 test tube baby trees and once they have grown, we will return the clones back into the wild.”
The High School, using the Science and Plants for Schools (SAPS) method developed by Kew Gardens, will grow the cells into a small tree called a whip which is ready to be planted.
The planting location of any successful cloned trees is still to be determined but it is hoped that the students will be able to take on the role of maintaining the trees in their new environment.
“It is great to see students getting involved at the sharp end of nature conservation and being central to a project that could be significant for the future of the elm,” added said Mr. Faulkner.
“Safeguarding the tree while further research is undertaken into the disease is essential if we are to see the elm in our landscape in the future.”
Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust works to champion nature, demonstrate how nature works and inspire people and communities to value and take action for nature.