ASH Die ieback .. Coming to a tree near you The Bookham Tree - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

ASH Die ieback …..Coming to a tree

near you

The Bookham Tree Wardens 10th July 2019

What is Ash Dieback?

Chalara: fungal disease from east Asia Arrived in Europe in the 1990s Spores dispersed by the wind Blew in from mainland Europe First in the UK in 2004 or earlier Arrived in Surrey in 2014 Food and water fail to move up the xylem in the stems causing dieback

Hymenoscyphus fraxineus previously known as Chalara fraxinea

Healthy leaves

The size of the problem

In Europe for 20 years Wiped out 90% of the ash trees in Denmark Will do the same in the UK We have est. 150 million mature ash trees And 1.8 billion young trees and saplings 4.1 million are urban ash trees 4 million alongside roads Dutch Elm disease: UK lost 30 million trees Biodiversity value of ash: hosts 955 species, 451 red list species, 45 are only known to occur on ash trees and 62 highly associated with ash Queen Mary University of London have sequenced the ash genome Minute spores of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (Chalara)

Identifying Ash Trees – ash keys

The seeds are called Keys They remain on the tree well into winter Often thought of as weeds Allowing young trees to germinate could help save the species 2-3% of trees might be immune to ash dieback We will lose the rest…

Identifying Ash Trees – the leaves and bark

Young trees often grow in groups The leaves are pinnate – they have many leaflets along a single stalk Leaves are paler than oaks or beeches Young trees have a smooth bark Mature ash trees have long straight trunks Mature trees have a uniform ridged bark

A healthy ash tree leaf

Mature tree bark Young tree bark

Looking for signs of Ash Dieback

Leafless sticks at the top of a tree Bunching of leaves with bare twigs below Shoot wilting, leaf necrosis Trees with fewer leaves Sudden branch drop Diamond lesions Mauve and/or orange sticks

Signs of ash dieback

Lesions

Sick and dying leaves

Health Classes of Ash dieback: Classes 1 and 2

Health Classes 3 and 4 (Cla

(Class 4: : 25%–0% remain inin ing canopy )

Where is your ash tree?

• Is it near a road?
• Is it over a driveway or footpath?
• Does it have a Tree Preservation Order?
• Mole Valley website list of TPOs
• Owners with ash trees near footpaths, pavements and public rights of

way need to be particularly vigilant

• In late summer check your ash trees: if a branch or section has no

leaves it is probably dead

Your responsibilities

• To avoid injury to others as a result of tree failure
• You have a ‘common law’ duty of care to ensure neighbours, visitors

and trespassers are safe

• Avoid disturbance to bird nests, bat roots, wildlife
• Keep deadwood to help insects survive: ash dieback is their

Armageddon!

• Don’t fell if you don’t have to

If your tree shows signs of ash dieback…

• Find a Professional for diagnosis and felling
• Compost, garden bin or burn your leaves
• Offer your wood to neighbours
• Replant ASAP to minimise landscape loss
• 3/2/1/ formula: Plant 3 new trees for loss
• f a large tree, 2 for a medium tree and 1

tree for a small tree

• Use British grown trees:

native aspen, alder, field maple, sycamore, birch, rowan, oak, disease resistant elm

Councils and Offic icialdom

Mole Valley District Council:

• is attending to ash dieback on its sites
• Holds the list of Tree Preservation Orders

Surrey County Council:

• refers one to the Forestry Commission website

Network Rail:

• has 10 million trees predominantly ash (20%) and oak
• spend £42 million per year on tree maintenance

Surrey Wil ildlife Trust

• Spent £26,146 on Ash

dieback in Norbury Park

• Generated an income of

£19,998

• Wood used for biomass

production

• 60 trees sold as logs for

furniture

• Awaiting natural

regeneration

Ash dieback on Fetcham Downs in 2014

Oth ther Councils?

Kent has 500,000 trees on roads and by-ways Surrey will have a similar amount Leicestershire County Council have put aside

• ver £5 million to deal with ash dieback
• additional survey work • felling dangerous

trees • additional staff time to work with private

• wners to ensure dangerous trees are removed
• staff time to deal with increased public

reaction/requests to fell • staff time to deal with ash trees that have TPOs • cost of replacement planting • additional staff and consultant costs • communications and consultation to explain ash dieback to stakeholders Counties with dieback planning are: Devon, Herts, Kent, E Sussex, W Sussex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Leics., but not Surrey!

A County Council estimated work and costs

(Unnamed council)

• £400 cost of removal per tree
• £34,478,905 total cost
• 6,020 verge trees x75% mortality

will cost £1,499,000

• Private ownership adjacent to

highway 120,000 will cost £29,880,000

• School grounds 1546 trees will cost

£385,000

• Woodland adjacent to public areas:

5968 trees will cost £1,468,000

• Replacement tree planting (over

80,000 trees) will cost £1,246,905

• 1115 ash trees removal and

grinding of stumps will cost £158,168

• As Mr Gove is no longer in the

leadership race perhaps he has some time to consider tree matters in Surrey!

Links and Research: Ash Dieback

https://www.treecouncil.org.uk/Portals/0/Ch alara%20docs/The%20Tree%20Council%20As h%20Dieback%20Action%20Plan%20Toolkit %20FINAL.pdf?ver=2019-02-11-124648- 123&timestamp=1549889719913 Arboricultural Association Registered Consultants available at www.trees.org.uk/Find-a-professional

Oak processionary moth – what is it?

• A non-native moth, Thaumetopoea processionea, from central and

southern Europe, first seen in UK in 2005

• Established in Greater London and some surrounding counties
• Huge infestations have arrived in Mole Valley, Ashtead, Bookham etc.
• Eats the leaves of oak trees, causing significant damage
• Primary concern is human (and animal) health

How to recognise OPM

• Hairy caterpillars crawling around the branches or trunk in lines, nose-to-tail.
• Often cluster together and build white, silk-type nests in the branches or trunks (not in the

leaves) of trees. Nests turn grey over time.

Oak Processionary ry Moth – the dangers:

Disturbing the caterpillars releases toxic hairs

• Skin irritation
• Breathing difficulties
• Less frequently, serious allergic reaction

5-7% of population at risk of affliction, ranging from minor skin complaints to anaphylaxis Risk of exposure is highest in May and June Do not touch or approach OPM nests or caterpillars Keep dogs from rooting around tree bases

• they suffer the same as humans

Oak Processionary Moth – The treatments:

• Application of approved insecticide or bio-pesticide in spring (mid-April/May) to

kill young caterpillars

• Manual removal of nests by trained operatives in late summer after caterpillars

have pupated, when all pupae are inside the nests Surrey County Council advice : ‘The Forestry Commission are responsible for dealing with this pest and all sightings should be reported to them.’ For pet owners the Blue Cross has a useful webpage https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/dogs-and-toxic-oak-processionary-moth- caterpillars

OPM Treatments

• Under no circumstances try to remove the nest/s

yourself

• in public parks and streets under EU law treatment is

mandatory

• Notifiy the English Forestry Commission on their

TreeAlert web page

• We were previously in a control zone but with the

increasing outbreak the process is evolving

What is is Mole Vall lley Council il doin ing?

• Prioritising high risk areas
• Triggered a major crisis alert referring you to the Forestry Commission website
• The Forestry Commission have stopped dealing with the problem on private land … they will not be

funding spraying. Advice: if you have OPM on your Oak:

• do not disturb the nests
• contact the Forestry Commission or

MVDC who will provide you with a list

• f FC licenced contractors
• See our updated web page:
• http://www.molevalley.gov.uk/

index.cfm?articleid=41072

Oak Processionary Moth

• Spot it
• Avoid it
• Report it

Links and Research: Oak Processionary Moth

• https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/forestry-commission
• https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/forest-research
• https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/pest-and-disease-resources/oak-

processionary-moth-thaumetopoea-processionea/opm-manual-4-biology-and-life-cycle/

• https://www.rover.com/blog/uk/uk-dog-health-warnings-processionary-caterpillar-outbreaks-

discovered-south-east- england/?fbclid=IwAR0FpC3A4pK76Zk9Sg1l7wyG_agliD5m5gdcN9uH4mpIebhx787tqU7y-TE#

• http://www.molevalley.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=41072
• https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/land-planning-and-development/countryside/advice/oak-

processionary-moth

Questions