A DISEASE-RESISTANT elm tree has been planted in a nature reserve – much to the delight of conservationists.

The 10ft tree was planted by volunteers at the newly-opened Bobbingworth Nature Reserve in Moreton.

An outbreak of Dutch elm disease in the late 1960s wiped out about 25 million elm trees across the country out of an estimated population of 30 million.

Colin Thompson, from Moreton, helped with the planting.

The 73-year-old hopes the tree, which has been planted on the reserve's viewing mound, will be the start of a regeneration of elms across the county.

"There's an opportunity there to replace that which we have lost and making it a feature within the reserve is a starting point," said Colin, who sits as a representative on the reserve's liaison group on behalf of Moreton, Bobbingworth and The Lavers Parish Council.

"I always thought the reserve would benefit from a specimen tree. It's a nice feature and a tree of that type crowned it," he added.

The tree becomes the second such specimen in Bobbingworth, along with another elm located close to the A414.

"It's really pleasing to see it up there in the reserve," said Colin.

"It doesn't look a great deal at the moment, but given 20 years it will be a tree of fair stature. With luck it will be there in two to three hundred years time, which is even more important."

The five-year-old tree was planted by volunteers last week, including six children from Moreton School.

Church Road resident June Handford helped organise the children's participation in the planting as part of the Rotary Club's Junior Community Award.

She said: "When I grew up there were beautiful elms everywhere, beautiful oaks, masses of trees and loads of insects, and slowly we are losing that.

"People are happy to cut down trees but things like the nature reserve are our future.

"Given time, the reserve will be such a beautiful area and we are leaving something nice for future generations."

The reserve, which is on a former landfill site in Bridge Road, is managed by the Countrycare Team from Epping Forest District Council.

Reserve manager Abigail Oldham said it is beginning to thrive since its opening in July.

"The reserve is coming on very well," said Abigail.

"We've got 40 species of grass and wild flower and over 5,000 trees which are doing very well, and slow worms as well, so we're quite pleased about it."