An iconic Elm in Brighton, one of the Preston Park Twins, and the oldest and largest English Elm in the world, had to be felled due to Elm Disease.

Please help us to preserve and celebrate this gracious tree, transforming it into a celebration of the Preston Park Twins, and relocate it back to Preston Park where it will be enjoyed by the community for years to come.

Image: Artists impression (Sam Harris)

The tree has been moved to The Secret Garden in Kemp Town where it will be worked on. Once completed the tree will be shown in The Secret Garden in 2022 and then returned to Preston Park. For further details visit: The Secret Garden

Much of the UK's original mature Elm population is lost. Brighton and Hove host the largest diversity of Elm for any city worldwide and holds a critically important role of preserving this species in Europe.

The final work will keep the shape, form and size of the elm with a new interior to create a jewel for Preston Park, transforming the tree into a celebration of the Preston Twins history and cultural significance.

Brighton & Hove City Council, Antony Dale Trust (The Secret Garden), Connick Tree Care, Yates Scaffolding, Friends of Preston Park and many other individuals and businesses are supporting the project.

The project raises publicity for the Elm disease control campaign and other research on diseases that threaten trees in general. We'll inform students, local people and the wider public about the history and consequences of this terrible disease, and the role we can all play in preventing it’s spread and preserving this species.

The trees may be lost, but they need to live in our memory, knowledge and experience. This project is a final opportunity to hold and celebrate this disappearing past.

For more about Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva and her plans for the tree visit: Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva