ELM TREES IN THE LANDSCAPE

This decline is a likely result of the ravaging effects of a recent wave of Dutch elm disease which has affected all of the UK’s elms, killing many mature trees and preventing new trees from growing. Despite its name, the English may well have been introduced into the UK during the Bronze Age, or may only be native in Southern England. Those that do survive send out new shoots and eventually regrowth occurs. If the dreaded disease appears then anything above 2 meters will be affected once more, giving little chance for the towering elms trees we once knew.

How To Identify

Elms can be recognised by their asymmetrical, oval leaves that are toothed around the edges and have very short stalks; they also produce winged fruit.The English elm has smaller, rounder leaves than wych elm.

Distribution

Widespread but scattered distribution in England and Wales and now commonly found more as a hedgerow bush. Often found on farmland, townscapes and mixed woodland environs.

DID YOU KNOW?

Historically, elms have been regularly associated with death, perhaps due to their readiness to drop massive branches without warning, or due to the use of their wood for coffins.

What Is Dutch Elm

The disease (Dutch elm disease DED) devastated elms throughout Europe and much of North America in the second half of the 20th century. It derives its name “Dutch” from the first description of the disease and its cause in the 1920s by Dutch botanists Bea Schwarz and Christina Johanna Buisman. Owing to its geographical isolation and effective quarantine enforcement,Australia has so far remained unaffected by DED, as have the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia in western Canada.

DED is caused by a microfungus transmitted by two species of Scolytus elm-bark beetles, which act as vectors. The disease affects all species of elms native to North America and Europe, but many Asiatic species have evolved antifungal genes and are resistant. Fungal spores, introduced into wounds in the tree caused by the beetles, invade the vascular system. The tree responds by producing something called tyloses, effectively blocking the flow from roots to leaves.

Please get in touch if you have anything you would like to share about Elm Trees. Contact Richard Godley on 07854 646 742

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Slimming World Recipe

Zesty Salmon Pasta

Method

1. Cook the pasta according to the pack instructions, then drain and return to the pan, reserving 100ml of the pasta cooking water.

2. Meanwhile, spray a wide non-stick frying pan with low-calorie cooking spray and place over a mediumhigh heat. Add the salmon chunks and cook for 1-2 minutes or until just cooked, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a plate.

3. Add the peppers, garlic and green beans to the frying pan and cook for 6-8

For more information visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk minutes or until tender and lightly charred, stirring often. Add to the salmon cubes and mix gently.

Fresh, light and tempting. This dish is perfect for a Summer picnic or as a delicious dinner.

4. Toss the salmon mixture through the pasta and stir in the fromage frais, lemon zest, chopped watercress and as much of the pasta water as you need to make a good sauce. Season lightly and divide between plates or shallow bowls. Scatter over the reserved watercress sprigs and serve with the lemon wedges for squeezing over.

Serves: 4 Ready in: 25 mins

Ingredients:

• 500g dried fusilli pasta

• Low-calorie cooking spray

• 4 skinless and boneless salmon fillets, cut into bite-size chunks

• 2 peppers (any colours), deseeded and chopped

• 1 garlic clove, crushed

• 300g green beans, trimmed and halved

• 100g fat-free natural fromage frais

• 1 large unwaxed lemon, zested and cut into wedges

• Small bag of watercress, a few sprigs reserved, the rest chopped

Syns per serving: FREE

PINXTON & SOUTH NORMANTON: HISTORY GROUP OLD PINXTON COLLIERY

Although it was given a singular name, Old Pinxton Colliery was in fact multiple shafts located in the area running from modern day Victoria Road to approx. one hundred yards east of Town Street (nearly to the line of the M1. These pits all worked the Top Hard seam from approximately the year 1800 to 1844 when Langton Colliery was sunk. Most of the small pits were sunk in a North - South line to the rear of ‘Pinxton Street’ until 1841 when it was re-named ‘Town Street’.

The most northern shaft was situated just east of the M1 and south of Brookhill Lane. This pit was confined to supplying coal for Brookhill Hall. I suppose you know you have arrived when you have your own coal mine to supply your heating requirements - the Cokes had plenty of fire-grates to justify this, however.

The largest, longest lasting and most important of ‘Pinxton Old Colliery’, shafts was The Green Engine pit. The remnants of this shaft were still visible until the motorway was constructed in 1965. In its latter years it was an important pumping station to keep Langton Colliery workings free of water. An extensive and expensive scheme was embarked upon in 1925, the work of which was the subject of a technical presentation being given to Members of the Institution of Mining Engineers

The End of An Era

Sleight No. 1 This shaft was filled-in October 1961

Sleights 2 was capped in October 1967. It last produced coal in 1948

Sleights 3 As a lad I used to bike from South Normanton - the grey-blue slag waste was dumped in mounds and were perfect for riding around. When I was working at Brookhill around 1959 Syd Vardy, Brookhlll Colliery Manager, got badly burned. He was there with Jim Searson, the Safety Officer, when the mound he was standing suddenly collapsed. It was only the quick thinking of Jim that pulled him out to safety. The slag heaps had been lowly burning due to internal combustion that only a thin crust remained. A few before I had been riding my bike around these dunes. No doubt some people still remember No. 3 shaft being ‘railed off’. The shaft was eventually filled in, in August 1965 Numbers 4 and 5 shafts were due north of No. 3, near to the line of the A38 road. No. 4 was filled in June 1930 and No. 5 shaft in October 1930. I believe it was No. 4 pit that was nicknamed ‘The Bread-and-Butter Pit’ because the quality of coal and conditions were so bad, it was only worked when the demand for coal was very high.

The remaining Sleights shaft, No. 6, was ‘capped’ and a safety fence erected in October 1961. This detail has been taken from an official NCB plan in the possession of the author and dated 3rd March 1968

There was one more shaft in this area of the village, which should be mentioned - that of the Old Persevere pump engine. This was filled in October 1967.

Written by Norman Taylor on behalf of The Pinxton and South Nornanton Local History Society.

Monthly meeting on 3rd Monday at 7.15pm at The Post Mill Centre

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