'Too little, too late'? Science, policy and Dutch Elm Disease in the UK

Journal of Historical Geography

Volumn 36, Issue 2, 2010, Pages 121-131

  Tomlinson, Isobel ^a   Potter, Clive ^a  

^a IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

Dutch Elm Disease; Rural landscapes; Tree disease

Indexed keywords

DECIDUOUS TREE; DISEASE CONTROL; EPIDEMIC; FUNGAL DISEASE; HABITAT LOSS; HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY; POLICY MAKING; RURAL LANDSCAPE;

UNITED KINGDOM;

ULMUS;

EID: 77954027429     PISSN: 03057488     EISSN: 10958614     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhg.2009.07.003     Document Type: Article

References (105)

1. C. Braisier, The biosecurity threat to the UK and global environment from international trade in plants, Plant Pathology 57 (2008) 792-808.
2. These letters are deposited in the Forest Research Public Advisory Service Records 1962-1970 Elm correspondence file held at Alice Holt Research Centre, Farnham, Hampshire.
3. See for example the Select Committee on Public Accounts Forty-Fourth Report Prepared 26th October 2004.
4. Under the Forestry Act 1967, the Forestry Commission is charged with the general duty of promoting the interests of forestry, the development of afforestation and the production and supply of timber and other forest products, including the establishment and maintenance of adequate reserves of growing trees. The primary legislation governing plant health in Great Britain is the Plant Health Act 1967. This prescribes the Forestry Commissioners as the competent authority in Great Britain as regards the protection of forest trees and timber. The Act empowers the Forestry Commissioners to make orders to prevent the introduction and spread of forestry pests and diseases and to require local authorities to undertake certain work to prevent the spread of specified pests or diseases. It also makes provision for the creation of offences and imposing fees for certain work.
5. J. Tinker, Elms: a phoney war, New Scientist and Science Journal 30 (September 1971) 719-720; J. Hedger, Has the elm a future? The Ecologist 4, 4/5 (1979) 130-135.
6. Brasier, The biosecurity threat (note 1).
7. C.M. Clothier, Investigation of a Complaint about the Spread of Dutch Elm Disease into Scotland, Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration Seventh Report for Session 1979-1980, London, 1980.
8. For a UK scientific and policy perspective on DED see: C. Brasier, New Horizons in Dutch Elm Disease Control, Report on Forest Research, Forestry Commission, Edinburgh, 1996; C. Brasier and K.W. Buck, Rapid evolutionary changes in a globally invading fungal pathogen (Dutch elm disease), Biological Invasions 3 (2001) 223-333; J. Gibbs, C. Brasier and J. Webber, Dutch Elm Disease in Britain, Research Note 252, Research Division of the Forestry Authority, Farnham Surrey, 1994; P. Jones, The geography of Dutch elm disease in Britain, Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers New Series, 6 (1981) 324-336; J. Swinton and C. Gilligan Dutch elm disease and the future of the elm in the UK: a quantitative analysis, Philosophical Transactions: Biological Sciences 351 (1996) 605-615; P. Sarre, The diffusion of Dutch elm disease, Area 10, (1978) 81-85. For an international perspective, see D. Burdekin (Ed), Research on Dutch Elm Disease in Europe, Proceedings of the European Economic Community Research Seminar, Guernsey, Channel Islands, 30th March-1st April 1982, Forestry Commission Bulletin No.60, London, 1983; R.J. Stipes and R.J. Campana (Eds), Compendium of Elm Diseases, 1981; T. Campanella, Republic of Shade: New England and the American Elm, New Haven, 2003; W.A Sinclair and R.J. Campana (Eds), Dutch Elm Disease: Perspectives after Sixty Years, Ithaca, 1978.
9. These included the Forestry Commission files (Catalogue reference F 18) and the Ministry of Agriculture (Catalogue reference MAF 374). Dutch Elm Disease files from the Department of the Environment, the Inland Revenue, The Treasury, the Department of Industry, the Countryside Commission and the Nature Conservancy Council were also reviewed and used to generally inform this research. However, they largely replicate the documents contained in the Forestry Commission files. Records from the Forest Research archive at Alice Holt are referenced as FR files below.
10. Through examination of the archive records a list was made of potential interviewees (scientists, civil servants and local government officers) who played a key role in the management of the DED epidemic. Given that forty-years has passed since the beginning of the epidemic, many of these people are dead, in ill-health or cannot be traced. Whilst this limited the number of interviews, it was still possible to hold semi-structured in-depth interviews, each of one to one and a half hours in duration, with a number key people who working at Alice Holt. Interviews were held with David Burdekin (Principal Pathologist), Clive Brasier (Mycologist), Robert Strouts (Advisory Service), Brian Greig (Forester in Plant Pathology Branch), Don Phillips (Chief Research Officer) and John Gibbs (Pathologist).
11. P. Taylor and F. Buttel, How do we know we have global environmental problems? Science and the globalization of environmental discourse, Geoforum 23 (1992) 405-416; D. Pepper, Modern Environmentalism: an Introduction, London, 1996.
12. S. Yearley, Nature's advocates: on putting science to work in environmental organisations, in: A Irwin and B Wynne, Misunderstanding Science? The Public Reconstruction of Science and Technology, 1996, 172-197; B. Wynne and S. Mayer, How science fails the environment: If politicians don't like uncertainties and scientists often conceal them, how can we make policies that deal with the vagaries of the world around us? New Scientist 1876, 5 June 1993 (On-line version).
13. A. Irwin and M. Michael, Science, Social Theory and Public Knowledge, Maidenhead, 2003, 94.
14. N. Castree and B. Braun, Social Nature: Theory, Practice and Politics, Oxford, 2001, 10.
15. M.A. Hajer, The Politics of Environmental Discourse: Ecological Modernisation and the Policy Process, Oxford, 1995, 57.
16. Hajer M.A. Politics of Environmental Discourse (note 15).
17. Brasier, New Horizons in Dutch Elm Disease Control (note 8); Gibbs, Brasier and Webber, Dutch Elm Disease in Britain (note 8).
18. Gibbs, Brasier and Webber, Dutch Elm Disease in Britain (note 8).
19. Campanella, Republic of Shade (note 8).
20. R. Carson, Silent Spring, New York, 1962.
21. Campanella, Republic of Shade (note 8).
22. Sinclair and Campana, Dutch Elm Disease (note 8).
23. Both species behave in a similar way. The fungus exists, following infection, in the living tree as a yeast-like stage which is carried along the sap of vessels of the outermost xylem ring. The mechanism by which this infection then leads to wilting symptoms appearing is far from understood but fungal toxins are believed to be involved. (See also Gibbs, Brasier and Webber, Dutch Elm Disease in Britain (note 8)).
24. T. Peace, The status and development of elm disease in Britain, Forestry Commission, 1960; See also T. Peace, Pathology of Trees and Shrubs, Oxford, 1962.
25. Interview with Brian Greig, 19 February 2008.
26. Peace, The status and development of elm disease in Britain (note 24), 39.
27. For example see Forestry Commission Leaflet No.19 Elm Disease Revised 1962.
28. Peace, The status and development of elm disease in Britain (note 24), 33.
29. Interview with John Gibbs, 7 February 2008.
30. Interview with Clive Brasier, 19 December 2007.
31. Peace, The status and development of elm disease in Britain (note 24), 41.
32. Forest Research Public Advisory Service Records, 1962-1970 Elm correspondence file, Alice Holt Research Centre, Farnham, Surrey.
33. Interview with David Burdekin, 11 February 2008.
34. Letter from a garden owner, Corringham, Essex, to Forest Research Public Advisory Service, 1 September 1967, in 1962-1970 Elm correspondence file, Alice Holt Research Centre, Farnham, Surrey.
35. Interview with Robert Strouts, 4 March 2008.
36. Letter from a garden owner, 17 July 1971, Bexleyheath Kent Forest Research Public Advisory Service, in 1962-1970 Elm correspondence file, Alice Holt Research Centre, Farnham, Surrey.
37. Forestry Commission (hereafter FC) leaflet no.19 1962 (note 27).
38. See note 29.
39. Dutch Elm Disease Dates by J. Gibbs, 10 October 1978, FR Archive Vol. 1.
40. The Development of the Current Dutch Elm Disease Epidemic by J. Gibbs, 29 September 1978, FR Archive Vol. 1.
41. Interview with Don Phillips, 19 February 2008.
42. M.J. Penistan, 'Elm Disease', October 1969, FR Archive Vol. 2.
43. For example see letter from the Chief Architect/Planner at Basildon Development Corporation to the Director at the FC, 24 October 1969, FR Archive Vol. 1.
44. Gibbs, The Development of the Current Dutch Elm Disease Epidemic (note: 40); Penistan, Elm Disease (note: 42).
45. N.E. Metcalfe (Ministry of Housing and Local Government) to R. Williams, FC, 28 November 1969, FR Archive Vol. 1.
46. Note from D. Burdekin to A.W. Meyer, Forestry Commission, 5 December 1969, FR Archive Vol. 1.
47. For example, see letter drafted for reply by the Parliamentary Secretary of MAF to Arthur Skeffington MP, 19 December 1969, FR Archive Vol. 1.
48. Interview with Brian Greig, 19 February 2008.
49. J.J.V. Summers at FC, for Lord Sandford Parliamentary Secretary to send to Worcestershire County Council, in response to a letter from them, 26 August 1970, FR Archive Vol. 2.
50. The Dying Elms; Control measures against Dutch Elm Disease, Forestry Commission Research and Development Paper No.78, October 1970.
51. Gibbs, The Development of the Current Dutch Elm Disease Epidemic (note: 40), 2.
52. Meetings of a Meeting held at Alice Holt Research Station, 10 September 1970, FR Archive Vol. 2.
53. J.J.V. Summers, Note on Dutch Elm Disease, 24 September 1970, FR Archive Vol. 2.
54. See for example letters from the National Trust, 15 December 1970, and the Royal Horticultural Society 13 October 1970, FR Archive Vol. 2.
55. J.J.V. Summers, Paper for consideration at FC meeting on 21st July 1971, F18/1100, The National Archives (hereafter TNA).
56. For example on 25 November 1970 Lord Macpherson asked a question in the House of Lords about the Government meeting the cost of the sanitation felling programme through financing to local authorities(FR Archive Vol. 2). In a personal response to a letter from Macpherson, J. Gibbs noted that 'with regard to the question of current control measures, it is indeed very frequently the cost of the operation which is the main problem-. Though financial aid made available through local authorities might well aid control measures very considerably, it would certainly be a very expensive undertaking': J. Gibbs to Lord Macpherson, 21 October 1970, FR Archive Vol. 2.
57. By Basildon UDC and the Urban District Councils Association F. Damerell (FC, Savile Row) wrote to J. Summers (Secretary to the Commission), 21 May 1971, F18/1100 (TNA).
58. L.H. Grinstead of the FC to H.G. Roberts of MAFF, 27 May 1971, FR Archive Vol. 3.
59. F18/1100 (TNA) and FR archive Vol. 4.
60. L.H. Grinstead of the FC to H.G. Roberts of MAFF, 27 May 1971, FR Archive Vol. 3.
61. DED: note of a Minister's meeting on 29 September 1971 (MAFF), F18/1100 (TNA).
62. Interview with John Gibbs, 19 June 2008.
63. See note: 55 - to be put before the Commissioners F18/1100 (TNA).
64. A.F. Damerell (FC, Saville Row) to J. Summers, 21 May 1971, F18/1100 (TNA).
65. On receiving a copy of the draft Order, Paul Johnson of the Urban District Councils Association wrote to Summers of the FC, 27 September 1971, F18/1100 (TNA).
66. P Nicholls (FC) to Miss J. F. H. Orr, Treasury Chamber, 6 September 1971, F18/1103 (TNA).
67. Nicholls to Orr, 6 September 1971, F18/1103 (TNA) (note: 66).
68. J.J.V. Summers to Wilson, 16 November 1971, F18/1102 (TNA).
69. A.C. Hetherington to Summers, 22 September 1971, F18/1100 (TNA).
70. Gibbs, The Development of the Current Dutch Elm Disease Epidemic (note : 40), 2.
71. J.N. Gibbs, H.M. Heybrook and F.W Holmes, Aggressive Strain of Ceratocystis ulmi in Britain, Nature 236 (1972) 121-122.
72. J.N. Gibbs and C.M. Braiser, Correlation between cultural characters and pathogenicity in Ceratocystis ulmi from Britain, Europe and America, Nature 241 (1973) 381-383.
73. J.N. Gibbs and R.S. Howell, Dutch Elm Disease Survey 197, Forestry Commission Forest Record 82, London, 1972.
74. RTF Larsen, Forest Management Division (28 September 1972) DED policy sheet, F18/1010 (TNA).
75. Note of a meeting held at 25 Savile Row, 6 October 1972, F18/1010 (TNA).
76. A Note for the Minister on DED enc with a letter from G.G. Stewart to R.A. Ashton at MAFF, 19 October 1972, F18/1010 (TNA).
77. D.A. Burdekin, DED, Brief to Minister, 10 October 1972, F18/1010 (TNA).
78. A Note for the Minister on DED
79. R.F.T. Larsen (Basingstoke Forest management division) to Stewart and Summers (HQ, London), 6 November 1972, F18/1010 (TNA).
80. Note by the FC for the minister's meeting on 6 December 1972, F18/1010 (TNA).
81. J. Gibbs to A. Damerell. 9 January 1973, and Letter from Reed County Surveyor and Planning Officer Isle of Wight County Council to FC, both F18/1203 (TNA).
82. J. Gibbs to Damerell and Begley (FC), 2 November 1973, F18/1204 (TNA).
83. Interview with John Gibbs, 19 June 2008.
84. Note of a meeting held at FC HQ, Savile Row, to discuss the effects of DED on the environment and in relation to public safety, 3 October 1973, F18/1203 (TNA).
85. R.J.S. Hoookway (Countryside Commission) to Stewart (FC), 8 August 1973, and Note of a meeting held at FC HQ, Savile Row, to discuss the effects of DED on the environment and in relation to public safety, 3 October 1973, both F18/1203 (TNA).
86. FC Précis of the main business dealt with at the 542nd meeting held at 25 Savile row, London, 21 March 73, MAF 374/49 (TNA).
87. A.F. Damerell to Alistair Gordon (Department of Environment), 16 August 1973 (F18/1203, TNA).
88. FC Précis of the main business dealt with at he 541st meeting held at 25 Savile row, London, 21 February 1973, MAF 374/49 (TNA).
89. Baroness Young (Department of Environment) to Lord Taylor, 15 January 1974, F18/1204 (TNA).
90. Brasier and Gibbs, Correlation between cultural characters and pathogenicity (note: 72).
91. Damerell to Stewart, 10 April 1973, F18/1203 (TNA).
92. See Importation of Forest Trees (Prohibition) (Great Britain) Order 1965, F18/1136 (TNA).
93. Gibbs to Damerell, 6 November 1974, F18/1204 (TNA).
94. Memo from A.F. Damerell to Mr Hunter, 20 November 1973, F18/1204 (TNA).
95. The FC made a submission to MAFF on 20 December 1973: F18/1204 (TNA).
96. Jones, The geography of Dutch elm disease in Britain (note .: 8); Sarre, The diffusion of Dutch elm disease (note 8).
97. Gibbs, Brasier and Webber, Dutch Elm Disease in Britain (note: 8).
98. Interview with Clive Brasier, 19 December 2007.
99. Interview with Clive Brasier, 19 December 2007.
100. Brasier, New horizons in Dutch elm disease control (note: 8).
101. Interview with John Gibbs, 7 December 2007.
102. Tinker, Elms: a phoney war (note 5).
103. See note: 30.
104. See 'National Elm Collection' on Brighton and Hove City Council website, http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/index.cfm?request=c1000983, accessed 17 December 2008.
105. Interview with Ray Strong and Stuart Derwent: Save the Elms Campaigners, Brighton and Hove, 10 April 2008.