Following a successful all-Island joint conference on Chalara Ash Dieback in Dundalk in May 2014 Minister O’Neill has provided an update on the current situation in the north of Ireland following the first confirmed outbreak in November 2012.
The common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is an integral part of our local landscape – in field hedges, as a component of woodlands, roadside plantings, and as single mature specimens in the countryside. Chalara Ash Dieback is caused by a fungal pathogen (Chalara fraxinea) which causes dieback of young shoots and may eventually lead to the death of the tree.
Minister O’Neill said: “Forest Service Plant Health Inspectors have undertaken a comprehensive programme of surveillance for the disease.
“Over 3,000 site inspections have been carried out since the disease was first found here in November 2012. To date 93 sites have been confirmed with Ash Dieback infection. Of these, 90 were recent plantings around the province, with three findings on imported stock in trade. There have been no confirmed reports of C. fraxinea infecting mature ash trees in the north.
“As a result of the ongoing surveillance approximately 86,000 young trees have been destroyed to prevent the disease spreading to the wider environment. Forest Service staff have been helping private woodland owners to deal with infected plants and debris.
“Surveillance plans for the 2014 season are well underway, with Forest Service Plant Health Inspectors firstly revisiting and inspecting the areas around previously confirmed outbreak sites. Further surveys of both recently planted and mature ash will then be undertaken over the summer period.”
Encouraging members of the public and landowners to be aware of the symptoms of Ash Dieback and report any sightings to DARD, Minister O’Neill concluded: “While DARD continues to monitor the situation closely and destroy infected plants promptly and effectively, I would encourage landowners and members of the public to continue to help us prevent this disease spreading by looking out for symptoms of Ash Dieback, and reporting them to DARD.”
The main symptoms to look out for are:
- wilting and blackening of young shoots,
- loss of leaves from the top of the tree,
- darker diamond shaped lesion on the bark where the shoot joins the main trunk,
- fruiting bodies (3-5mm size creamy coloured ‘mushroom shaped structures’) on dead leaf litter during June to October.
If you see an ash tree with any of these symptoms please report your findings, along with your name and contact number, to afib.planthealth@dardni.gov.uk or phone 0300 200 7847.
For more information on ash dieback disease, identifying symptoms, and guidance on reporting sightings please visit the DARD website external link.
