Dutch Elm Disease

In the 1970s, Poulshot, like the rest of Wiltshire, fell victim to Dutch Elm disease, which led to a dramatic change in the countryside's appearance.

In a relatively short period of time following the epidemic, hundreds of elms disappeared from the landscape, leaving many rural areas bereft of these distinctive native trees.

Local historian - and one of those behind Poulshot's Green Gardens' Woodland - Nora Dixon, recalls how coming down towards Poulshot from Devizes, you'd have thought the village was hidden by a forest of trees.

Now since Dutch Elm Disease, Poulshot has literally been laid bare.

"Having lost the elms we now have wonderful views but very few trees," suggests Nora.

Fundraising

Following the sale of Nora's book, "Down Poulshot", which tells of Poulshot's twentieth century history, a sum of money was raised and, with the agreement of the Parish Council, it was decided to put the money towards a new tree planting scheme.

The three-and-a-half acres of land set aside for the project has long associations with the village, and for many years was an area used by local residents to grow their own vegetables.

Mole hills? No, just the holes waiting for the new trees!

Apart from one corner, which remains an allotment, the land was prepared in advance and made ready for the planting of Poulshot's Green Gardens Woodland and a collective force gathered during the last weekend of November 2003 to help plant the trees in ready made holes.

John Quinn, another resident of Poulshot has been a big supporter of the plan to create the Poulshot Green Gardens Woodland.

Bringing people together

"It's given the village a core interest," he remarks, "the jubilee started all of this and then the book brought people together - and this has done the same."

And John says the Green Gardens scheme is very much a project for Poulshot's future generations.

Holes marking the place where the trees will be planted - the clear area to the left will be the glade.

"Once it's established - which we won't necessarily see - it'll be a very useful asset."

Nora is also looking forward to the future - she hopes that people will make use of the area and, in particular, the glade, which is being created in the centre of the woodland.

"It's very difficult to image how it's going to be but we hope it'll be a nice wooded area with the glade in the middle - in which we can have various activities," she says.

Click here to see the tree planters battling with the elements as they make a start on creating Poulshot's Green Gardens Woodland.