On Thursday 24th April 2025 OPT volunteers helped Town of Perth employees plant six elm tree saplings in Stewart Park that had been purchased by the Town from the University of Guelph which had been collecting elm tree seeds from Dutch Elm Disease (DED) resistant mature elms growing all around Ontario. After planting in Stewart Park the same crew moved over to Last Duel Park to plant five elm saplings purchased from UofG from a donation made to OPT for this purpose. Unfortunately one of the Stewart Park elms soon died but please see the photos below to see how elm trees are returning to Perth and may even be returning  home to their mother elm on Mill Street by the children's playground.

As you can see, from photos above, some of the saplings that were planted seemed to have their trunks quite bent over. Questions were asked of the University of Guelph, which had supplied the Dutch Elm Disease resistant saplings, whether these saplings should be staked to bring them back into an upright growth. Please click on the button below if you wish to see the questions and answers.

By the way, the magnificent elm tree located near the White House Inn on Wilson Street (near the Big Ben statue) could be a male tree as no seeds could be found underneath come the spring.