Ash dieback, resilience and a new role in the Forestry Commission Posted by: Rob Coventry , Posted on: 30 April 2020 - Categories: Climate change and resilience , Tree health Woodland Resilience Officer Rob Coventry on his role in the Forestry Commission and how it's necessary to deal with the threats of Ash Dieback. Managing Chalara Ash dieback in Kent Chalara in Kent Key Information Ash is the most common tree in Kent (almost a fifth of all trees). NWSS is in a position to Version 1.0 issued 30.04.2020 Forestry Commission – Operations Note Page 1 of 9 Grants and Regulations Operations Note Operations Note 046b 30 April 2020 Restocking woodland following loss of ash due to ash dieback Purpose Guidance on restocking for owners and managers of woodland containing ash. Trees woods and wildlife. For fuller advice, refer to their website. Aims MANAGE HEALTH & SAFETY RISKS ... Forestry Commission ON046 – Managing ash in woodlands in the light of ash dieback 4.2.12. To help you spot symptoms of the disease and report suspected sightings, visit the Forestry Commission's guide. The nation’s forests, car parks and essential facilities are open to you for local outdoor recreation and exercise. A fatal fungal disease of ash trees First confirmed in the UK in 2012, ash dieback, also known as 'Chalara' or 'Chalara ash dieback', is a disease of ash trees caused by a fungus called Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. Ash dieback – lesion on 4 year old ash. The felling of diseased ash within woodland still requires a felling licence from the Forestry Commission unless they are dead or pose a real danger. It is thought that Chalara, or Ash Dieback as it is more commonly referred to, spread to Europe in the 1990s but has only, in the last few years, taken a hold on the woodland around us in a significant way. UK national plant health legislation prohibits all imports and internal movement of ash seeds, plants and trees. ‘Ash wood may continue to be moved within Great Britain except from woodlands or other sites where C. fraxinea has either been confirmed or is suspected, and a statutory Plant Health Notice has been served. Chalara has now infected ash trees throughout Silk Wood at Westonbirt Arboretum, and in order to ensure the future health of this ancient woodland, Forestry England is now faced with having to respond to this threat to maintain the health of Silk Wood for future generations. Landowners are not required to take any particular action if their ash trees are infected unless the Forestry Commission or another plant health authority serves them with a statutory Plant Health Notice requiring action. 3. Managing woodland SSSIs with ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) Read this guidance if your Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) contains ash trees. Find something to do. Reporting suspect symptoms There is no cure for ash dieback, but good biosecurity practice should always be followed, whether working in woodlands, in parks or open spaces, or in residential gardens. The Forestry Commission says it has the "potential to cause significant damage to the UK's ash population, with implications for woodland biodiversity and ecology, and for the hardwood industries". ON046 – Managing ash in woodlands in the light of ash dieback _____ Version 1 issued 20.09.18 Forestry Commission Grants & Regulations– Operations Note Page 2 of 9 Currently there is no known efficient prevention or curative treatment (e.g. There is now a single contact point for suspected cases: 08459 33 55 77 in England or Wales 0131 314 6156 in Scotland OR alternatively call us on 01626 773499 or email us info@ashdieback.co.uk for free friendly advice. It is intended to encourage people to: • understand the implications of ash dieback on land for which they are responsible • think strategically about the management of ash trees • use the guidance highlighted to adopt good practice Introduction Ash trees are found in woodland and non-woodland settings, in both urban and rural landscapes. silvicultural or chemical approach) that will alleviate or mitigate the effects of ash dieback. Ash. Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. Ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) is a fungus which originated in Asia. Position statement. SSSI woodland owners are encouraged to refer to - Managing woodland SSSIs with ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) 5 . In the meantime, here is an excerpt from the Forestry Commission’s guidance. The latest information from the Forestry Commission shows that Ash Dieback has now taken hold across much of the UK, including Devon. We would encourage all members of the public to report the disease in new (unshaded) areas. Tall and graceful. To report suspected cases of ash dieback disease, contact the Food and Environment Research Agency on 01904 465625 or the Forestry Commission on 0131 314 6414. The Forestry Commission website has information on what the government and other groups are doing to reduce the risk of spread and confirmed sites are shown on a map. By doing so, you will help reduce the risk of introducing and spreading tree pests and diseases. The disease causes leaf loss and crown dieback in affected trees and it may lead to tree death. Restocking woodland following loss of ash due to ash dieback - operations note 46b ... Forestry Commission. Ash dieback on Surrey's Countryside Estate. This, combined with the observed rate of spread and the high level of infection already present, make eradication of Chalara impossible. Under threat. The fungus was previously called . If composting ash leaves in an area where ash dieback is known to be present, the Forestry Commission recommends covering them with with a 10cm (4-inch) layer of soil or a 15-30cm (6-12 inches) layer of other plant material, and leaving the heap undisturbed for a year (other than covering it with more material). A map can be viewed by clicking here. If, after several years of chalara ash dieback on the site, there are no apparently tolerant mature ash trees left on a mixed-species site, and regeneration has failed, and if there are enough trees of other species to form a closed stand within 10 years, it is likely that your management objectives can still be achieved without carrying out further regeneration. Forestry Commission on Ash dieback. The forestry commission have completed a survey of Ash dieback confirmed findings across the UK as a whole. Ash dieback – the Woodland Trust's position. Find a forest or woodland Our forests will remain open for outdoor recreation and exercise. Both native and ornamental ash trees are present in parks and gardens. Management of Native Ash in Scotland. Ash Dieback Action Plan 1. 6 5. A high proportion of ash trees in Northern Europe have been infected and the disease is now For fuller advice, refer to their website. Ash is one of our three main hedgerow trees, along with oak and beech, and makes up about one sixth (16%) of their shrubby growth. BIOSECURITY Measures. Everything you need to know about the beloved ash tree. Risk Matrix We have produced a Management intervention model Risk Matrix to formalise the decision-making … About 25% of the total area of ash (3,000 ha) in native woodland occurs in woods where the canopy cover of ash is greater than 50%, and it is these woods where the potential impacts of ash dieback will be severe. Map Legend Website Information Project This … Ash Dieback Guidance Ash Dieback Guidance “The impact of the disease on trees outside of woodlands is less predictable. This project is seen as a major contribution to the objectives of the joint Defra-Forestry Commission ‘ Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Action Plan’ . Wonderful for wildlife. If you suspect you have found a new infection, please report it by using Tree Alert on the Forestry Commission website. The main purpose of this note is to offer guidance on managing existing native woodlands that contain ash trees, including those of high nature conservation value, to ameliorate the potential impacts of ash-dieback on biodiversity, and to encourage ecological functioning in these ecosystems. What would you like to do today? Ash dieback is caused by a fungus called . Ash dieback disease - Pest Alert (PDF, 639.7kB) Ash dieback is a disease of ash trees caused by a fungus called Chalara fraxinea. Ash Dieback Case Studies launched: Sharing Experiences As the impact of the devastating disease ash dieback on the UK treescape gathers pace, woodland owners and managers are sharing their experiences to help others manage that impact. Ash Dieback What is Ash Dieback? As of September 2018, 49.2% of the UK landmass, split by 10km grid squares, was found to have been infected. ash‐dominated woodland (where ash is >50% of the canopy) is 6,229 ha. However, the Forestry Commission and its public and private–sector in the UK in 2012. Chalara fraxinea, and the disease is therefore still often referred to as Chalara dieback of ash. Lead Author: Forestry Commission. According to Forest Research, the principal organisation for forestry research, Chalara ash dieback will cause significant damage to the UK’s ash population with implications for the forestry industry as a whole. Ash Dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) is a fungal air borne disease that is going to change the UK’s woodland landscape. 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