
Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva is crowdfunding
Weʼre raising £5,000 to Help Preserve & Celebrate one of the Preston Park ‘Twins’ - The Oldest Known English Elms in the World
- Brighton
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Story
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 in Preston Park where it will be enjoyed by the community for years to come.

Image: Artists impression (Sam Harris)
The tree is currently being preserved and has been installed in its original location in Preston Park.
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 second twin has just been dedicated to Queens to mark the jubilee.
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 Council City Parks, Connick Tree Care, Amazon Access Solutions, Brewers Decorator Centres, Repair 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
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Updates
4
2 months ago
Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva
2 months agoWe have successfully moved to Preston Park. Please do come and say hi and see the work in progress. Thank you all for your continues support, best Elpida
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2 months ago
Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva
2 months agoWe now need to find a NEW scaffolding firm to support us and we still need financial support. I am so HOPEFUL that the weather will be kind to us for the next few weeks until we get back on schedule.
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2 months ago
Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva
2 months agoWe have been asked to move the tree, so have had to take down the scaffolding and wrap it as best we can with plastic sheeting to protect it from the weather. Unfortunately, as we’ve been trying to dry the tree for over 4 months, this is extremely challenging, it’s devastating to uncover the tree while it is relocated. But, the GREAT news is that it is being moved back next to its Twin Sister in Preston Park, and will be enjoyed by many more people as we continue to work.
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Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva started crowdfunding
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Supporters
46
Caroline Clarke
May 21, 2022
£10.00
Jane
May 12, 2022
£30.00
Jane Wilford
May 12, 2022
What a fantastic project! I’m so glad that someone is preserving this tree for future generations.
£50.00
Tina & Rebecca
May 11, 2022
For many generation of our family, this has been a magical part of our lives.
£20.00
JD
May 9, 2022
£5.00
Isabel Monteiro
May 6, 2022
Joe Hatcher
May 3, 2022
£10.00

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What is crowdfunding?
Crowdfunding is a new type of fundraising where you can raise funds for your own personal cause, even if you're not a registered nonprofit.
The page owner is responsible for the distribution of funds raised.
About the fundraiser

Elpida Hadzi-Vasileva
Brighton
Elpida's artworks are in public collections Luxelakes a4 Museums, China; The Vatican; Office of Public Works, Ireland; Križanke, Slovenia; Casoria Contemporary Art Museum, Italy; Osten, Macedonia; MIMA and New Hall Art Collection, UK and private collections around the world.