Threat to Common Ash

Information on Chalara fraxinea – Ash Dieback

Charlara fraxinea has been heavily covered in the media over recent days. It is currently not known to be present in London but this is no guarantee that it is not here. Any complacency on the subject would be misplaced as Ash is numerically among the top ten most frequent tree genera in the city. A disease of this type will not only affect the countryside and rural areas but inner city parks, gardens and woodlands.

Foliar symptoms will not be evident through the winter and identification via bark lesions is the only way to spot this disease. Our members will be one of the first lines of defence in identifying and dealing with this disease throughout London's urban forest.

Ash Die-back Disease (C. fraxinea) is being treated as a quarantine pest under national emergency measures, and it is important that suspected cases of the disease are reported to the Forestry Commission or Fera.

Clicking on the two links below will take you to the Forestry Commission's information leaflets - these can be printed out and given to your staff:

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/Symptoms_guide_Chalara_dieback_of_ash_2012.pdf/$FILE/Symptoms_guide_Chalara_dieback_of_ash_2012.pdf

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/pest-alert-ash-dieback-2012.pdf/$FILE/pest-alert-ash-dieback-2012.pdf

What should I do if I think my ash trees have the disease?

You should first attempt to correctly identify the disease. Click on the youtube link below for a video to help you to identify the disease.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1GpufLkBto

Suspected cases of Chalara should be reported to one of the following:

Forest Research Tree Health Diagnostic and Advisory Service

T: 01420 23000;

E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Forestry Commission Plant Health Service

T: 0131 314 6414;