A steady stream of locals has contacted Spurtle this week, concerned by the felling of trees at the top end of Drummond Community High School playground.
In fact concerned does not come close to describing the reactions of some, who have been deeply upset by the loss of such well-loved local landmarks.
A Council spokesman told Spurtle that the work comes after an exhaustive audit of over 6,000 trees in the Children and Families Department estate. All specimens were assessed for general condition and safety.
Sadly, this is not the first time that Drummond's elms have had to be cut.
We reported the loss of 3 mature trees in September 2012, one in 2010, and a further three back in 2008.
In each case, the cause was Dutch Elm Disease.
Keenly regretting the losses last autumn, Drummond’s business manager was quick to stress that the Edinburgh Schools Partnership would restore foliage by planting new, ‘reasonably quick-growing trees’ in their place. For the most part, these have turned out to be silver birches.
With no remedy for the beetle-borne fungus in sight, new elms, it seems, are unlikely to appear here anytime soon.
For an interesting article on the history, transmission and (comparatively slow) Scottish spread of Dutch Elm Disease, follow this link to the Forestry Commission.
