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Warning as disease hits ash trees
News of a devastating disease of ash trees being discovered in the UK and Ireland earlier this year is raising concern as to its potential threat to ash trees in the island.
Ash dieback, Chalara fraxinea, is caused by a fungus and has led to widespread loss of ash in Europe in recent years. Denmark has lost about 90 per cent of its native ash trees.
While there have been no reports of Chalara fraxinea in the Isle of Man to date, the disease has the potential to kill many thousands of trees if it reaches the island. Ash makes up around one quarter of hedgerow trees in the island and is important for wildlife, landscape value and biodiversity.
The island is suffering from Dutch Elm disease and sudden oak death.
Brenda Cannell MHK, a member of the Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture, said: ‘The very aggressive nature of the disease has prompted us to cease importation of ash trees for forestry use and I would urge tree nurseries, and others who may be considering importing ash into the Isle of Man, to join us in this ban, which is voluntary at present.
‘We have put in place a programme to grow ash stocks for our own use from seed. We will be able to know that these are free from the disease. It is hoped that by alerting the general public, nurseries and garden centres to the disease, we can prevent its arrival and spread into the Manx countryside. Everyone’s help with this will be very much appreciated.”
Mountain ash is not related to common ash and is, therefore, not affected or susceptible to the disease.
Symptoms of the disease include dieback of shoots and twigs, and lesions and scarring of bark.
The DEFA’s focus at the present time is to discourage importation of potentially infected tree stocks. Winter and early spring are the season for the buying and planting of trees.
DEFA continues to make committed efforts to control Dutch elm disease across the island and also Phytophthora ramorum (sudden oak death) within its plantations at Ballaugh and West Baldwin.
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Weather for Isle of Man
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 25 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 6 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 33 mph
Wind direction: North west
