Pruning Ash... A Code of Conduct?

[Andy Collins]

I believe sections 4 and 6 cover the movement of firedogs, sawlogs, wood chip etc adequately, which is at least a guidance for Arb sector. Planting and movement of new plants is also adequately covered IMO. Thanks Paul for your time in digging ot the info , and Catweazel, and Charlie when you get something.

At least going through it here we are reinforcing it in peoples minds, sourcing the relevant info from the right people who are best to advise. Thanks to you all for your help with that.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

I dont think pruning cuts will prove any more of a risk than is already present as it can become infect leaf material. I would suggest if your encountering anything that looks remotely iffy burning on site would be preferable (unless you think its Chalara in which case contact FC or FERA). I certainly wouldnt consider chipping deadwood etc at this time unless your 100% confident that its not diseased. I dont think FC can be accused of slow response on this as everyone I know in FC is currently working on this as their main priority. Yes more preventative measures could have been put in place possibly but this is more the remit of FERA and DEFRA than FC.

 

As I mentioned on the other thead there is plenty of info about the disease on here Homepage

 

I would suggest that as a precautionary measure using the same disinfectants as for P ramorum for giving kit a good clean down before and after working on ash trees. The chemical is Propeller from Evans Chemical Supplies - 01209 213643,

 

Feras early response to this issue when raised by industry members was that a ban on imports would breach European trade agreements, If you want to blame anyone blame the stallers, it is unclear as yet to me anyway EXACTLY who decides what we import and where from, but whoever they are they have some explaining to do.

[openspaceman]

I believe sections 4 and 6 cover the movement of firedogs, sawlogs, wood chip etc adequately, which is at least a guidance for Arb sector. Planting and movement of new plants is also adequately covered IMO. Thanks Paul for your time in digging ot the info , and Catweazel, and Charlie when you get something.

At least going through it here we are reinforcing it in peoples minds, sourcing the relevant info from the right people who are best to advise. Thanks to you all for your help with that.

 

I didn't get a further reply from FC before close of play yesterday.

 

It seems that the order did come into being yesterday but unlike you I see ambiguity in the wording of the link

 

Forestry Commission - Q & A - Chalara legislation

 

That is a summary of the proposal, not the actual regulation.

 

 

On the one hand it suggests trees cannot be moved within UK at all but stem wood is an exception and no material can be moved from a site with an infection. I cannot see any map of sites which have been served with the required plant health notice.

 

Map of current sites care of BBC

 

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/63787000/gif/_63787113_ash_tree_624.gif

 

However further down in discussing what can be done with wood from an infected tree is says branches, leaves, ( racemes?) and twigs (buds?) are parts of a tree.

 

On the precautionary principal I would not move lop and top or chipped lop and top off site, I have been overruled on this by management.

 

What we don't know is if spread has been by wind or by fomites travelling at 70mph from Felixtow, Harwich etc.

 

I would like to see a cite for the viability of the spores because whilst wind-borne spores may be susceptible to ultra violet those hidden in muddy boots may not see daylight, we saw how human borne fomites was the chief vector of FMD in 2001.

 

I think FERA always knew the disease was inevitable given normal trade and movement of people and the cost of doing anything was not worthwhile to most Britons.

 

I agree with Tony the spread becomes inevitable once the sexual stage reproduces spores and this will be next June, the question is how resistant are our ash and will it spread to isolated trees/woodlands.

[benedmonds]

AshTag is a free tool to help you do your bit to track the spread of the Ash ‘die back’ fungus and limit its impact. The development of AshTag has been led by the University of East Anglia's Adapt Low Carbon Group in partnership with the IAS.

 

ashtag.org

[openspaceman]

I have spoken with a lady from FC Edinburgh and I see now the link below has been edited

 

Forestry Commission - Q & A - Chalara legislation

 

The order is in force and the ambiguity about branches twigs etc, being part of a tree has been removed.

 

The actual order is at

 

The Plant Health (Forestry) (Amendment) Order 2012

 

and mentions only plants of genus Fraxinus L. intended for planting.

 

I think this means all arb arisings are exempt except from infected sites,

[Treecreeper1961]

This is another monumental bio security disaster of nightmare proportions. What is it about the human race that makes us almost guaranteed to make the same mistakes over again.

If indeed the cat is out of the bag then any biosecurity measures we can, may, must or choose to undertake are probably simply a matter of personal pride and conscience.

Take a look at what has happened with P.ramorum. Once the pathogen is released into the 'natural environment' it is only nature that can determine the ultimate extent of what will ensue. It seems to me that the strategy of both c. fraxinea and p. ramorum is efficient and similar in ways. There is not enough money to carry out the best practice bio security and the reality is there is no real point. Why attempt to contain such pathogens ( air born, water born, spread by birds and anything that moves) with such feeble measures as cleaning boots and tyres? ( I do clean my boots and sanitize with propellor because I cannot bear the guilt of personal responsibility and I don't know if I am just playing devils advocate.)

The British Isles has been blessed with a natural barrier against the ravages of many diseases but this isolation may also prove to be a fatal weakness. Please can we use our location to our advantage and come to our senses. We could so easily, comparatively, stop these issues before they even come ashore. Local provenance.

Of course there is more than one flaw to this theory. Creating a weak gene pool and not to mention the practice of collecting local seed to be propagated in Dutch nurseries.

Serfs never should have left the parish.

I hate sounding like a left wing fascist.

I love Ash trees, they are my favourites.