The traditional cache takes you to visit a beautiful elm tree that has survived the Dutch Elm disease outbreak and lives to tell the tale - it really is a amzing sight to see such a huge elm tree. Please note that the geocache is not at the base of the Elm tree 
as we had to relocate the cache due to proximity to another geocache. It's still a great location so we hope you don't mind.
LOCAL INFORMATION
Dutch elm disease is one of the most serious tree diseases in the world. It has killed over 60 million British elms in two epidemics and continues to spread today.
In a nutshell… • First epidemic caused by fungus Ophiostoma ulmi from the 1920s onwards • Second and ongoing epidemic caused by the highly aggressive and related fungus O. novo-ulmi, first recognised in the 1970s • Elm bark beetles in the genus Scolytus disseminate the fungus • Infects all of Britain’s major elm species • Fungus invades water conducting system of trees
When did it start?
Dutch elm disease has been around for about 100 years. Initially, it was caused by the fungus Ophiostoma ulmi, but the devastating epidemic which took off in England in the late 1960’s resulted from the accidental introduction of a new and highly aggressive form of the pathogen which turned out to be a new species - Ophiostoma novo-ulmi. Bark beetles (Scolytus spp.) are also an essential part of the Dutch elm disease cycle because they spread the fungus from diseased to healthy trees.
Are there any elms left?
This is a rare specimen... most of the mature elms that formed a part of our landscape have been lost. In 1985 it was estimated that 30 million elms had died of Dutch elm disease in Britain, after that no further surveys were undertaken to estimate elm losses. But that doesn’t mean there are no elms left – quite the reverse. When an English elm (Ulmus procera) is killed by the disease, some roots remain alive and new elms regenerate from these. A single dead elm is often replaced by a thicket of vigorous young elms. Other elm species are prolific seed producers from an early age, and seedling elms grow rapidly. So not many big elms remain in Britain, but there are many millions of young elms growing around the countryside.
Are the young elms resistant to Dutch elm disease?
Sadly no. Elms that grow from the roots of dead elms are genetically identical to the ‘parent’ tree and just as likely to succumb to the disease. Some elms, such as smooth-leaved elm (U. carpinifolia) do have some resistance but they, and the seedling elms that they produce, can still be killed by the disease.
Is that big elm I saw the other day resistant to Dutch elm disease?
Probably not. Apart from the trees that remain in Elm Disease Control areas such as Brighton, Hove and parts of East Sussex, pockets of mature elms, and even some large individual trees exist around the countryside. These trees, known as ‘escapes’, have probably avoided infection through lack of exposure to the beetles that spread Dutch elm disease. Interestingly, the beetles favour certain species of elms when it comes to feeding. Their favourite is English elm and their least preferred is Wych elm (U. glabra).
Is it true young elms can’t get Dutch elm disease?
Unfortunately not. Young elms often avoid infection because they are overlooked by the beetles which seem to prefer taller elms. Also, when all larger elms have been killed, the beetles run out of places to breed as the elm bark has to be certain thickness for breeding to be successful. As breeding material (i.e. large recently dead elms) runs out, beetle numbers dwindle and the small elms remain safe for while.
Will Dutch elm disease ever die out?
Not in the foreseeable future but there are some glimmers of hope. Elm breeders have produced resistant elms which are gradually being introduced into the landscape. Some resistant elms are even being tested as food plants for elm-dependent rare butterflies. There has also been research to look into the possibility of producing genetically engineered English elm with resistance to Dutch elm disease, but the end result is a long way off. We also know the Dutch elm disease fungus can be infected by viruses that weaken it and make it less pathogenic, but so far it has not been possible to turn this into an effective means of control. So Dutch elm disease is likely to be around for a while, but so are the elms.
TRAVELLING SUSTAINABLY
The nearest bus stop is in East Meon where there is a regular service mon-sat
You can cycle to this geocache, access to the area is via the South Downs Way