Ash Dieback

Can you imagine Sussex without any ash trees?  That horrific scenario may just become a reality according to recent research.

Ash trees all over the UK are being badly affected by the fungal disease ash dieback – also known Chalara dieback of ash.  

Together with the invasion of the emerald ash borer beetle, disease and pest are combining to cause huge concern about one of our most prolific trees.
According the Journal of Ecology, the ash may be wiped out completely in Europe and the effect on the British countryside could be devastating.

In Denmark, 90% of the ash trees have been infected by ash dieback fungal disease, which is now endangering Britain’s ash population of 80million trees.
This is a worrying development as the ash is an important part of the English ecological system.

Symptoms of the disease can show up on the shoots, branches and leaves of trees that are infected. Look out for shrivelled blackened shoots and dead tops on saplings.

There’s a lot more interesting information on the Woodland Trust website.

Update 22nd April 2016 - Just heard on the BBC News that ash dieback may not hit the UK as hard as Europe, where 1 million square miles have been affected. Let's hope that our ashes are more resistant to the disease since we want to retain the mature trees that make our countryside so beautiful.

For advice about your ash trees complete the form or call us

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