Volunteers at the Kent & East Sussex Railway (K&ESR) are helping to reintroduce Elm trees to the British countryside after they almost disappeared from the British countryside by the ravages of Dutch Elm Disease in the 1970s.

Dutch Elm Disease was responsible for the almost complete elimination of one of Britain’s favourite and environmentally important native trees.

The railway is now helping to re-establish the tree in the Weald with a programme of tree planting.

The railway’s Forestry & Conservation group, consisting entirely of volunteers, is responsible for the management of all trees and vegetation along the 10½-mile length of the railway from Tenterden to Bodiam, where the station is very near Bodiam Castle.

As part of its 2024 tree planting programme, the group has planted ten Dutch Elm Disease-resistant species of standard Elm tree donated to it by Kent County Council.

Kent County Council is implementing a Tree Establishment Strategy across the county, and as part of that strategy, it donated five ‘Rebona’ and five ‘New Horizon’ varieties of Elms trees to the Kent & East Sussex Railway.

As well as being resistant to Dutch Elm and other diseases, these varieties can also tolerate both drought and water-logging, features that make them eminently suitable for lineside habitats alongside the Kent & East Sussex Railway and add to its biodiversity.

The young elm trees have been planted next to a two-acre wildflower meadow at Rolvenden alongside the Kent & East Sussex Railway.

The site was carefully chosen to maximise its ecological benefit and is easily accessible so that the Forestry & Conservation team can monitor, water, and care for the young trees as they grow.

As the varieties are also fast-growing and resilient, they will add to the overall biodiversity of their location.

Last month the railway celebrated its 50th anniversary with the first diesel gala it had held for 14 years, and last December its Santa Specials were nominated for an award in the Beautiful South Awards and was shortlisted as the Event/Festival of the Year.

Elsewhere on the railway, it is raising the money to help safeguard its historic buildings with the priorities being restoration of two significant landmarks in the Tenterden Town conservation area.