A disease that has the potential to
devastate the UK's ash tree population has been recorded for the first time in
the UK's natural environment.
Chalara dieback, caused by a fungus
called Chalara fraxinea, was
confirmed at two sites in East Anglia.
Until now, the disease had only been
recorded in a few nursery specimens.
Ash trees suffering with C. fraxinea have been found across
mainland Europe, with Denmark reporting the disease has wiped out about 90% of
its ash trees.
Experts say that if the disease becomes
established, then it could have a similar impact on the landscape as Dutch elm
disease had in the 1970s.
This outbreak resulted in the death of
most mature English elm by the 1980s. Elms have recovered to some extent, but,
in some cases, only through careful husbandry.
The East Anglia outbreak was confirmed by
plant scientists from the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) at the
Woodland Trust's Pound Farm woodland in Suffolk, and Norfolk Wildlife Trust's
Lower Wood reserve, in Ashwellthorpe.
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