Bad News Ash Disease discovered in East Anglia

[arbwork]

Ash dieback disease discovered in mature woodland in East Anglia | Environment | guardian.co.uk on the radio this a.m. fearful of implications

[Grass hopper]

It was found here in Ireland two weeks ago from a batch imported as well , lets hope some thing can be done and soon.

[Charlieh]

There is currently a lot of concearn as to the fact this could be airbourne and coming over the channel although this hasnt been confirmed it is being widely speculated about.

 

FC have it as their No 1 priority currently with area staff out checking ash woodlands I have attached the FC symptoms guide to identifying the disease, and I would urge anyone in the Arb or Forestry sector to familiarise themselves with the symptoms and if in any doubt contact FC plant health Forestry Commission - Plant Health - Contactsor FERA Contact Plant Health

Symptoms_guide_Chalara_dieback_of_ash_2012[1].pdf

[Gnarlyoak]

This item is hitting the major news channels.

 

BBC News - 'Ash dieback' fungus Chalara fraxinea in UK countryside

 

So far the outbreak appears to have hit just one area of woodland in East Anglia. But this disease has the potential to be as serious and as devastating to ash as Dutch elm disease was in the 70's. Currently ash trees make up 30% of the tree cover across the UK. Imagine losing nearly 1 in every 3 trees you see today!!

 

The Forestry Commission is taking the matter so seriously that they are treating it as a notifiable quarantine pest under national emergency measures.

 

Forestry Commission - Pests and diseases - Ash dieback (Chalara fraxinea)

 

They are also looking to bring in legislation to restrict the import and movement of ash tree material into and around the country. But please read the FC blurb about what this actually means before you all go and have a knee jerk reaction and think that you can't carry on bimbling about in your vans carrying ash woodchip, logs and timber.

 

Forestry Commission - Q & A - Chalara legislation

 

Sadly the only bright side to this bad news, is if the disease does take hold and proves to be as bad as Dutch elm, there will plenty of work for everyone! Though maybe not so good for firewood sellers in the future when the supply of ash logs outsrips demand!

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Check out the fera YouTube guides on this and other nasty's lurking!

[face cord]

I don'y understand why they hadn't already banned imports ages ago if it has wiped out so many trees in europe?

 

Seems abit late now

 

In Demark:

 

A tree disease has decimated 90% of Denmark's ash population

 

Stupidity?

[Samba]

Totally agree with you face cord, makes me so angry as we've all seen this coming and nothing has been done. Its madness that we import so many NATIVE trees, but hey money makes the world go round......

[AlvinD]

Comparing with the PDF from the FC with the Ash trees out the back field, it looks like it has arrived here as well. IMO it's already too late to do anything except leave it up to the scientists. It's made it's stealthy entrance, and while some might see this as "pessimistic" in reality, it's the truth (we can do nothing at all)."

[NI Tree]

well said face cord

 

alvin i hope not

[Johny Walker]

they were quick enough to ban are beef some yrs ago ,brussals again