Jermyn (1974) includes elms under four headings (see Table 1), Ulmus carpinifolia
Gleditsch, Ulmus glabra Huds. ssp glabra, Ulmus x hollandica Mill and Ulmus procera Salisb.
Some of the distribution comments made about these species need to be treated with caution.
Of Wych Elm Jermyn says 'Frequent and well-distributed . . .', while of English Elm he
comments 'It appears to be the least common of the species ... '. This may hold true in north
Essex (Stanley Jermyn Lived at Felsted), but not in south Essex, nor in Essex when taken as a
whole. The Hybrid Elms (apparently including amenity plantings and naturally occurring
hybrids) are recorded here from only a handful of sites, not a reflection of their true status.
Ulmus carpinifolia is given as the commonest species: again true for north Essex, but not in the
south of the county. A variegated specimen of this group is reported from a hedgerow at Toot
Hill.
The Distribution of Elms in Essex (after Richens, 1967 and 1983)
This map shows the very approximate distribution of the main elms of
Essex. The map is based on the recording, by R. H. Richens, of elms
found in the vicinity of settlements in Essex. It does not include elms
recorded in ancient woodland and excludes any recently recorded material.
For distribution of species such as Lineage Elm or Wych Elm see Rackham
(1980 and 1988).
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