Eastbourne is within the Dutch Elm Disease Control Area which extends from Eastbourne to Hove and North to the A27.
Legislation gives us the authority to order the cutting down and burning of any Elms infected by Dutch Elm Disease (DED).
We project manage works on private properties and when budgets allow, offer up to 50% financial assistance. This has been a successful way to keep our low levels of DED infections down as well as our expenditure on Elm removals. This has also left us with a healthy stock of Elms in Eastbourne.
There are two benefits to DED control; environmental and financial. Elms are the most significant trees in Eastbourne and if the control of the disease was stopped, infection rates would increase and our landscape would be changed beyond recognition.
Any tree infected with this disease will die and end up being dangerous. This means that dead trees must be felled in the interest of safety.
There is an estimated population of 10,000 Elms in Eastbourne and we are responsible for 25% of them.
