Ashes to Ashes

Deciduous trees at Reaseheath

Teaching today at Reaseheath was interrupted for a walk around the grounds to admire some of the beautiful trees at the height of their autumn glory, but it's hard to look at woodlands right now without wondering how much damage could be done if, or sadly more likely when Ash dieback, Chalara fraxinea takes hold.

It's still unclear how this deadly fungal disease of Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) reached the UK and airborne spores are appear as like a cause as infected imported saplings, but I'm sure I'm not alone in wondering why there was ever a need to import Ash trees.  Ironically, every year I have weeded dozens out of the beds in the garden and usually composted them, although last year I propagated several dozen and gave the young trees to a tutor at Reaseheath for her Guide troop to plant, specifically because, at the time, Ash was regarded as a good disease-resistant choice in the face of increasing problems for oaks.  How quickly things can change.

No doubt there are scores of Ash seedlings growing in the garden here right now, the children of a beautiful tree at the foot of our neighbours' garden, and when I'm raking leaves and tidying the borders for winter, I'll find a good few of them.  I'm tempted to try and save some, potting them up and giving them the protection of a cold greenhouse, but they can't stay there for more than a season or two before they would need an outdoor site.  By then, hopefully there will be some progress in the fight against this killer disease and the trees will be able to safely leave their 'Ark', but it's a depressing thought that they might just need to be destroyed to prevent the spread and persistence of the problem.

Please see the attached article for more information on this disease and keep a close eye Ash trees near you.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20128172