Ash Dieback disease threatens Devon's hedged landscape – let's ...

Contacts:
Brian Beasley. Dartmoor National Park Authority, Trees and Landscape Officer.
01626 831002. bbeasley@dartmoor.gov.uk.
Robert Wolton. Chairman, Devon Hedge Group. 01837 810416.
robertwolton@yahoo.co.uk.
Photos of ash trees in hedges are available free from Robert Wolton
Further information
The disease
Ash dieback disease is a fungal infection caused by Chalara fraxinea. The disease
causes leaf loss and crown die back in affected trees. Infected trees are unlikely to
survive and it is predicted that over 90% of Britain’s ash trees could be lost to the
infection. Young trees are likely to die in the first season of infection with large
mature trees taking several years to die.
To date the infection has been confirmed at 549 sites throughout the UK, 24 in
nurseries, 336 on newly planted sites and 189 in the wider environment. Most of the
infected sites are in the south east and some of these infections may have been
caused by wind carried spores from the continent. Few infected sites have been
identified in the south west, most of these infected sites are on recently planted sites
although one site trees in the wider environment have been infected.
What does ash die back disease look like?
There are a wide range of symptoms associated with ash dieback including:
foliage wilt – black/brown leaves may be retained;
shoot dieback with brownish to orange discolouration, often multiple
shoots
elongated angular stem lesions, often diamond shaped.
small white fruiting bodies growing on stalks of fallen ash leaves
staining of wood under bark
For further information on identifying the disease visit the Forestry Commission’s
web site at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara
What to do if you spot unhealthy ash trees
Any suspected sighting should be reported to the Forestry Commission via the
Chalara helpline (plant.health@forestry.gsi.gov.uk). The Forestry Commission or
FERA will investigate and if a case is confirmed they will take appropriate action.
Unlike Phytophtora DEFRA is not recommending total removal of infected trees, they
are requiring the removal of infected trees in nurseries and on newly planted sites,
but woodland and hedgerow trees will be left in situ. It is hoped that some trees will
show resistance to the disease and they can used as a seed source for the next
generation.