Committee Needed: Historic English Elm is Dying in HoCo
Gene Torrey is organizing a sub committee to pursue an opportunity to work with Tim Overstreet, Howard County Parks and Recreation Department Horticulturalist, regarding a diseased English Elm at Belmont Manor.
The Committee will meet with Tim at his office to sort out details around picking up some cuttings from the tree, containing the bark through the milling process and returning said bark to the Howard County Landfill or Parks and Recreation facility for shredding, and also to arrange for some pieces to be processed and returned to the Belmont Manor Gift Shop for sale.
The English Elm is believed to be approximately 250 years old (circa 1760). It is suffering from Dutch Elm disease. The disease vector is the elm borer, which inhabits the bark. Shredding the bark destroys the habitat if the insect and stops the spread.
Any wood with bark received by Guild members must be properly handled as a result.
Tim suggested turned pens or coasters as possible item types to be returned to the Belmont Gift Shop. Guild members who participate in making these items will be allowed to retain some wood for personal use only in exchange, and not for commercial sale.
Tim Overstreet stopped by the Guild meeting yesterday morning on his way out into the field for a tree clean-up.
Tim shared facts about Dutch Elm disease, the Belmont Manor and the nature of the Elm tree removal.
Tim also commented that as the department processes trees they may from time to time notify the Guild of interesting specimens or other similar opportunities for the Guild to obtain wood. Tim will comment to me by email or through the Website’s Contact Us form. We will surely pass along the information.
We want to thank Tim for taking the time to meet with us and be supportive of our participation.
If you would like to participate, please post a comment on this thread so that we can follow-up with you.
Hi Gene,
I make some real mean wine bottle stoppers and ice cream scoops, so add me to your list of participants for making things from the dying elm tree.
Jerry