In the 1970s, an outbreak of Dutch elm disease led to the loss of 90pc of elm trees, with 25 million falling victim to the fungal infection.

And now elm trees are making a grand return to Norfolk.

The National Trust is planting 100 disease-resistant elm trees at three of its Norfolk estates at Blickling Estate, Felbrigg Estate and Sheringham Park.

On Thursday, the last of five trees were planted at Felbrigg.

Richard Daplyn, countryside manager for Felbrigg Estate and Sheringham Park said: "Elm trees were once giants of the landscape, standing high above the hedgerows at well over 30 metres or more.

"The interlocking grain in their wood made them a valuable water-resistant timber used in buildings, ships, coffins and even early water pipes.

"Elm trees used to be planted as way-markers by farmers at the boundaries of land as they are........

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