Ash Dieback Disease (Chalara fraxinea) in Ireland

Oldtree

I think that the spores only going 20-30km is now in the wind so to speak,
esp with that cluster in the SE of the uk on the map i put up earlier showing infected wild sites, probably infected from europe. With good travel, weather and thermal conditions and starting from the top of a tall tree I think the distance covered by the spores could be very large.

Even if it was 20-30 km that would be on land and the annual distance covered, a couple of years would see it uk coast to uk coast easy, then a short hop across the irish sea, probably having done it already across the channel from france to the uk.

Black Smoke

As a non expert and non forrester, I would like to ask a few questions.
With the news of this potential disaster looming, I took a walk around the farm last Sunday, to count the number of ash trees we have on the land.
Sum total 41. Mostly large mature trees, but some at various stages also.

Is there anything we should or could be doing to mitigate the situation?

Should we be collecting and planting seeds this fall, for instance?

I would absolutely hate to lose everthing for ever more!

Oldtree

I'm not sure how paranoid we need to be at this juncture, but we need to do what we can to protect our trees:

The main thing I can think of is not to buy in any ash seedling stock or collect ash seedling stock from outside your own lands, thus preventing the movement of any ash trees, somewhat like the foot and mouth, that way you can prevent one possible path of ingress to your trees.

And also along those lines I would not visit other ash woodlands, and if you have to I would take precautions like cleaning the boots before going into and coming out of those woodlands. It may also be worth ensuring you take the same precautions at home with visitors and even yourself if you leave and return to the farm. Same for tools.

I will be continuing with my plans to plant out my own ash seedlings collected on my own land.

Familiarise yourself with the symptoms and keep an eye out and report it asap should you suspect or find an infection.

Good pictures of symptoms here from Jersey gov publication:

http://www.gov.je/SiteCollectionDocuments/Environment%20and%20greener%20living/ID%20Ash%20Chalara%20Dept%20leaflet%20NOV%202012%20(size%20268kb)%2015112012%20DM.pdf

Disease now found Guernsey and total ban in Jersey:

http://www.thisisjersey.com/news/2012/11/15/ash-tree-disease-found-in-guernsey/

I too have a number of mature ash. I understand that an Ash can live for up to 300 years, with a life cycle of 100 years to grow 100 years to mature and 100 years to die. One of mine is in decline and I would estimate it to be about 250 years old, but that may be wishful thinking.

Other diminuitive banzai'ed ash of mine are about 100-120 years old. See this thread for a description and photo of these little beauties:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056525292

The below Ash tree (with the huge cavities) just outside Ballinrobe, you can just about see in the middle of this google streetview map, is an unbelievable tree to behold. It is hollow and the cambium has turned around on itself to form stilts. It has an enormous girth an could easily be over 300 years old. I'll try to get a better photo.

http://maps.google.ie/maps?hl=en&ll=53.617628,-9.228456&spn=0.000003,0.002012&t=h&layer=c&cbll=53.617628,-9.228456&panoid=ZhxIiWQcjJDfbNc5AnA39A&cbp=12,81.16,,1,-2.01&z=19

Uk now up to 184 cases:

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara

but "its not here"!!!!! see no evil........speak no evil

periodictable

Now in Northern Ireland

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/ash-dieback-confirmed-five-sites-173709959.html

Oldtree

in Down and Antrim:

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/1117/ash-dieback-ni.html

on the North Antrim coastline “There are an estimated 3.5 hectares affected at Runkerry, right beside the Giant’s Causeway, World Heritage Site on land we acquired a few years ago. Around 2,000 young trees, planted in March this year,

http://ntpressoffice.wordpress.com/2012/11/16/second-case-of-ash-dieback-chalara-fraxinea-confirmed-on-national-trust-land-in-northern-ireland/

Uk to 200 cases http://www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara

looks like its still in newly planted sites on this island or is just that noone here checking the wider environment?

Where's our dedicated bit of the Dept website for this disease?
Where's the list of nurseries and distributers that the infected plants have come from, both europe and here, to help us trace any other infected plants?

Oldtree

Maby this will help get the point across, given that imported infected plants have been here to spread spores for over 3 years and at a possible natural spread rate of 20-30km per year.

Infected Counties in Ireland:

periodictable

So people call Minister Mc Entee's office

Shane McEntee TD
Contact Details

Department of Agriculture, Agriculture House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Telephone: 01-6072977
Email

shane.mcentee@agriculture.gov.ie
Constituency

Meath East
Constituency Details

No.3 Copper Beech, Duleek, Co. Meath
Telephone: 041-9882727
Fax: 041-9882477
Web: http://www.agriculture.gov.ie

also

Seamus Dunne and Gerard Cahalane, Forest Service Inspectors

Séamus Dunne, Senior Inspector

Forest Service
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine,
Agriculture House, 3 West
Kildare Street
Dublin 2
Tel: 01 6072275 / 087 2515524
Fax: 01 6072545
Email: seamus.dunne@agriculture.gov.ie

Gerard Cahalane, Forest Protection/ Forest Reproductive Material and ISPM No. 15

Forest Service
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine,
Agriculture House, 3 West
Kildare Street
Dublin 2
Tel: 01 6072268 / 087 6697106
Fax: 01 6072545
Email: gerard.cahalane@agriculture.gov.ie

manjou

If you add in all the timber that is flying around on lorries at moment . Also these sites are only young so people would have been spraying in them etc and moving to next site.Next spring will tell the tale as people are aware and will notice ash trees dying and looking sick as before they may have put it down to losses now they will put it down to ash dieback.I have been looking alot closer at my ash lately so will see next spring.Only have a few acres of ash but it was going to be my heating source in fyture so it would cost more than first thought as will have to replace with something else.

Oldtree

manjou wrote: »

If you add in all the timber that is flying around on lorries at moment . Also these sites are only young so people would have been spraying in them etc and moving to next site.Next spring will tell the tale as people are aware and will notice ash trees dying and looking sick as before they may have put it down to losses now they will put it down to ash dieback.I have been looking alot closer at my ash lately so will see next spring.Only have a few acres of ash but it was going to be my heating source in fyture so it would cost more than first thought as will have to replace with something else.

You are right and I think we should have a national strategy to deal with what is going to come, no more kicking the can down the road as the can is about to kick back.

About the firewood production, I had initially been worried about disease striking my willow copse that I was making (only in second year now) and decided to plant a few different varities so that if one variety got hit I would have others to rely on. I then extended idea a bit to plant poplar and ash. I grow the poplar and willow from my own cuttings that I have collected over the years as well as some chance seedlings that grew in the garden. I collect my own Ash seedlings. I have loads of sycamore seedlings too which up to now I have avoided using but may have to include in the mix from now on. I do not spray off the grass only go round in autumn to push the grass down around the plants as I do not consider nutrient competition a serious threat but during winter snow on grass leaning on the plants can break them when they are smaller.

Oldtree

periodictable wrote: »

So people call Minister Mc Entee's office

I watched the debate in the Senate and the following showed an interest in this so email him too: (I have no political affiliations)

Thomas.Byrne@oireachtas.ie

Oldtree

Mature tree symptoms from here:

http://www.gov.je/SiteCollectionDocuments/Environment%20and%20greener%20living/ID%20Ash%20Chalara%20Dept%20leaflet%20NOV%202012%20(size%20268kb)%2015112012%20DM.pdf



From what I can gather this "witches broom" effect would be through-out the tree's crown and would be easily seen in the winter, with shoots above the regrowth obviously dead.

It should not be confused with normal dieback of a mature tree in decline, where dead branches, dieback, can be seen due to the declining vigour of the tree or just normal wear and tear damage, both probably lacking the reshooting/recovery shoots.

Reshooting/recovery shoots can occour for a number of reasons, esp if a branch or limb breaks, but if it is sparse in the tree I would not panic just yet.

Oldtree

Part of a National Alert in the UK:

People are being asked to notify the Peak District National Park Authority if they have planted any ash trees in the past six years, and to choose alternative trees in any new planting schemes.

Access to woodlands is unaffected, but the PDNPA is asking people to be vigilant about cleaning footwear, clothing, cycles or buggies so as not to transfer the fungus spores from one site to another.

http://www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/news/local/ash-woodland-locations-plea-1-5138318

wheres our co-ordinated National Alert for the common good?????

Theres also news of ordinary UK garden trees being possibly infected but still waiting for test results:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/countryside/9685153/Ash-dieback-disease-suspected-in-private-gardens-for-first-time.html

sheamuseen

Oldtree wrote: »

You are right and I think we should have a national strategy to deal with what is going to come, no more kicking the can down the road as the can is about to kick back.

ring the helpline listed on dept of ag site and you get an answering machine....

Oldtree

Given that the UK is asking mothers to be vigilant about cleaning babies buggies so as not to transfer the fungus spores from one site to another

I wondered what efforts are being made at the entrance points to Ireland for "roll on roll off" ferries that provide a direct link to a heavily infected country?

Oldtree

Efforts being made by the UK gov:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2012/11/09/action-ash-tree-disease/
"encourage citizen , landowner and industry engagement and action in tackling the problem"
sounds like a plan!

and advisory signs to print off by them too:
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-8ZZJPN

Our online effort seems to be still at the information note stage!!!
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice/foresthealthandseeds/

Written answer 200 from Dail Eireann on the 15th November 2012 says it all:

"Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the additional bio security measures he is considering to address the escalating number of trees affected by ash disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney):

In terms of future actions, site surveys of the ash estate are continuing this week. These surveys on the health of our ash trees will focus on sites which are at most risk from infection. These will include recently planted forests which used material imported ash plants from the continent. Examinations of ash imported wood and planting material will also be increased to enforce recently enacted legislation.

In relation to specific biosecurity measures to be observed where the disease is suspected or where ash surveys are being carried out the Department currently recommend the following hygiene measures. In relation to footwear it is recommended to wash off all soil and plant debris from boots. Boots should then be sprayed with disinfectant and used water should be disposed of onto an area where the water will not run into a watercourse. In relation to clothing it is recommended to check all clothing and remove any plant material. Soil and plant debris should be washed off all tools and equipment with disinfectant.

Forest owners, forest nursery staff and members of the public have been asked by my Department to be vigilant for the disease and report (with photographs if possible), any sites where there are concerns about unusual ill health in ash trees to the Forest Service."

What about recent infected imports from the continent sold to the public in small numbers, across this country?
Why do I not feel bio secure?

Oldtree

Forestry Commission officials are to visit 36 sites in Northern Ireland linked to the outbreak of ash dieback.

There are another 15 sites which have symptoms of the disease and officials are waiting for laboratory test results to confirm if dieback is present.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20415230

yellowlabrador

fresh from the dail this morning.....

http://http://youtu.be/zTNQB4DLLQg

Oldtree

link dosnt work

Rovi

Here we go:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTNQB4DLLQg

periodictable

So the Forest Service has been aware of a potential threat since at least 2008, yet they took no action, and the disease is in the country.
Time for a Dali committee to demand answers from Seamus Dunne and Gerard Cahalane and whatever other officials who are complicit in allowing an entirely preventable situation to arise.

Oldtree

At last the appearance of a bit of positive movement.

The minister mentioned an outbreak in Tipperary, slip of the tongue while he was thinking about hurling maby?

The minister also mentioned the public helping. I think that that one is going to be complex with a goal of erradication. He needs anybody in the public who bought an ash tree in the last 7 years to return to the nursery they bought the tree at to find out the provenance of that tree. Then a central list of those non irish trees from both infected and non-infected countries needs to be then compiled, as non infected may become infected. It goes without saying that any of these public trees from infected areas would need to be destroyed or would we wait till symptoms show or test each tree? Big job.

This may be a severe measure as the disease is thought to affect plants within a matter of months rather than years, we really dont know yet so what would be an appropiate time frame for destruction? I really dont think we should take any chances.

We need more than the inspectors looking out for this disease. Dont see any reason that a factsheet and pictures of symptoms cant be sent to every house.

I'm glad that premiums are continuing for plantataions that have been affected along with replanting costs to be met, as its important to continue to foster forestry develpment here.

Oldtree

periodictable wrote: »

So the Forest Service has been aware of a potential threat since at least 2008, yet they took no action, and the disease is in the country.
Time for a Dali committee to demand answers from Seamus Dunne and Gerard Cahalane and whatever other officials who are complicit in allowing an entirely preventable situation to arise.

Time for the talking to stop and action to take place by those in power.
Plenty of time for recriminations later, we wont forget.

Oldtree

Deathwatch UK: now up to 222 cases,
(their map has been enlarged to include the 5 sites in Northern Ireland)
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara

Minister McEntee:

"We will be ruthless and, with a bit of luck, in 12 months’ time we will have it under control."

http://www.irishexaminer.com/farming/finance/ash-die-back-disease-will-be-dealt-with-ruthlessly-214646.html

Pete_Cavan

Oldtree wrote: »

Deathwatch UK: now up to 222 cases,
(their map has been enlarged to include the 5 sites in Northern Ireland)
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara

Minister McEntee:

"We will be ruthless and, with a bit of luck, in 12 months’ time we will have it under control."

http://www.irishexaminer.com/farming/finance/ash-die-back-disease-will-be-dealt-with-ruthlessly-214646.html

With question marks over whether it has been possible for the disease to have traveled across the British Channel, surely the fact that it has reached this island means that contagion across the country is inevitable? This is why I called for an all island approach earlier in the thread, how on earth can we contain the spread of airborn spores within this landmass? Even if the disease was only able to travel a couple of km, the amount of ash trees here, and the relatively short distances between them, means that full epidemic is inescapable.

Maybe I am being overly pessimistic but if the Minister is relying on "a bit of luck" I fear all is already lost.

Rovi

Teagasc have published a poster (attached below) for distribution and display by anyone interested:
http://www.teagasc.ie/forestry/advice/chalara_disease.asp

Direct link:
http://www.teagasc.ie/forestry/docs/advice/chalara_poster.pdf

periodictable

Time to cut a few ash plants and flake the rear ends off the Forest Service personnel.

Oldtree

Rovi wrote: »

Teagasc have published a poster (attached below) for distribution and display by anyone interested:
http://www.teagasc.ie/forestry/advice/chalara_disease.asp

Direct link:
http://www.teagasc.ie/forestry/docs/advice/chalara_poster.pdf

No sign of mature tree symptoms on the poster :rolleyes:

Oldtree

smartphone app in the UK to help with id of spread:

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Smartphone-app-people-power-hold-key-saving/story-17372332-detail/story.html

https://itunes.apple.com/app/ashtag/id574320875?mt=8

now theres a novel idea for our friends in the Dail.

Oldtree

SUPPLY OF 40,000 HURLEY PLANKS FROM COILLTE THIS WINTER

http://www.merrionstreet.ie/index.php/2012/11/press-release-mcentee-welcomes-supply-of-40000-hurley-planks-from-coillte/

Oldtree

could fungiside injections for ash trees be an option for landowners with mature trees?

http://www.hortweek.com/Arboriculture/article/1160908/Race-register-potential-ash-dieback-cure/

love the idea