Ash trees

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 01 Nov 2012, 19:07

I guess some folk need reminding that leaves fall off in autumn.

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 01 Nov 2012, 20:33

This is pretty damning of the government

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2 ... ry-imports

Nurseries import hundreds of thousands of potentially diseased ash trees into Britain every year because the grant system that funds most commercial tree planting is unpredictable and in chaos, leading forestry companies have claimed.

Growers are also sceptical that the government's ban on imports of ash trees to prevent the spread of the fungus that causes ash dieback will be effective because they say it is not extensive enough.

"The government has not banned imports – it has just insisted that ash trees come from a pest-free area. It is possible for anywhere in Europe to be declared a pest-free area, so imports may continue after inspections. We cannot rely on the government to sort out this mess, the fact remains that the European plant health regime has proved to be inadequate," said Jamie Dewhurst, of J&A Growers.

Ash trees infected with the Chalara fraxinea fungus that causes ash dieback were first detected in the UK in a nursery in Buckinghamshire. The disease was confirmed in the wild last week and the government introduced a ban on ash seedlings from infected areas from Monday.

JavaScriptDonkey · Post by **JavaScriptDonkey** » 01 Nov 2012, 22:09

The Government don't actually import trees though do they Biff?

It is the industry that imports the trees and AFAIK most of it is used to fuel the wood burning fad.

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 01 Nov 2012, 22:11

Do read the article, JSD. This is nothing to do with firewood

JavaScriptDonkey · Post by **JavaScriptDonkey** » 02 Nov 2012, 17:34

biffvernon wrote:Do read the article, JSD. This is nothing to do with firewood

Isn't most Ash grown in this country used for firewood?

featherstick · Post by **featherstick** » 02 Nov 2012, 20:51

It was at the bonfire night we've just been to - the clowns built the bonfire far too close to the hedgerow and severely scorched a lovely ash tree. Idiots.

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 03 Nov 2012, 08:30

Ash discussion on Radio 4 farming today:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01nnw7r
with Clive Brasier (an independent forest pathologist and geneticist), Mark Coleman, UEA, Sarah Gurr (Professor of Molecular Plant Pathology at Oxford University) and the Forestry Commission's Ben Hogben.

Useful tips on disease identification.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 03 Nov 2012, 11:30

Is there any practical advice and support for when an affected tree is found? I have a big ash tree near my and my neighbour's house, and some tall ones close to a road. I reckon the one near the houses would need to come down a section at a time. I've got a very big one further back in the wood too. Taking out all my ash would be pretty expensive, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who would struggle to pay for it.

Little John · Post by **Little John** » 03 Nov 2012, 11:36

JohnB wrote:Is there any practical advice and support for when an affected tree is found? I have a big ash tree near my and my neighbour's house, and some tall ones close to a road. I reckon the one near the houses would need to come down a section at a time. I've got a very big one further back in the wood too. Taking out all my ash would be pretty expensive, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who would struggle to pay for it.

If it's a big tree and it's got to come down in sections due to being in a place where you can't safely clear fell there is no other safe option but to call in a tree surgeon. It'll cost.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 03 Nov 2012, 11:40

stevecook172001 wrote:If it's a big tree and it's got to come down in sections due to being in a place where you can't safely clear fell there is no other safe option but to call in a tree surgeon. It'll cost.

I appreciate that, and know people who could probably do it. The question was about whether there will be any sort of support available from TPTB to do it.

Little John · Post by **Little John** » 03 Nov 2012, 11:46

JohnB wrote:
stevecook172001 wrote:If it's a big tree and it's got to come down in sections due to being in a place where you can't safely clear fell there is no other safe option but to call in a tree surgeon. It'll cost.
I appreciate that, and know people who could probably do it. The question was about whether there will be any sort of support available from TPTB to do it.

I bloody doubt it!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ation.html

Homeowners face £1,000 bill to have infected ash trees cut down as insurers and government refuse compensation

Residents will not be able to claim the cost on their home insurance
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says they will not offer compensation
The Horticultural Trades Association says it could aid the spread of disease because there is no incentive to report infected trees

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 03 Nov 2012, 11:50

I don't think there have been any cases in Wales reported yet.

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 03 Nov 2012, 12:51

Defra, in panic mode, swings into action: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2012/11/02 ... e-chalara/

There's an important line near the end:

not all trees die of the infection, and some are likely to have genetic resistance.

that means clear felling of all ash trees around an infection would be really stupid. We need to let the trees die and, importantly, let the few resistant ones live. Don't rush into felling.

UndercoverElephant · Post by **UndercoverElephant** » 03 Nov 2012, 13:25

Need to be seen to be closing the stable door very firmly, now that the horse has bolted.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 03 Nov 2012, 13:31

biffvernon wrote:I don't think there have been any cases in Wales reported yet.

Well just make sure you lot in England get rid of it before it crosses the border!