Tree Health Event
We have organised a free Tree Health update at Monks Yard in Ilminster on 3 March 2020, 10am – 3.15pm. The agenda will cover a topical update on tree health, biosecurity and woodland resilience in the South West, as well as workshops where you can ask questions in smaller groups. The agenda for the event is attached. Places are limited, so booking is essential using the link below. Please note that in previous years, places have booked very quickly for these events.
Woodland Resilience
We would like to introduce our new Woodland Resilience Officer, Chris Sorensen, who has taken up a new role in our national policy advice team, but remains based in the South West where he has a been a Woodland Officer for the last few years. Chris’s role will focus on disseminating best practice on woodland resilience, silviculture and restocking after issues such as Ash Dieback or other pests and diseases. He will be working through the forestry sector and other organisations with interest in woodland to raise awareness of the importance of species diversity, multi-structural woodlands and strategies to minimise the impacts of pests and diseases. Chris will be speaking at our Tree Health event in Ilminster.
International Year of Plant Health (IYPH)
The International Year of Plant Health is a once in a lifetime opportunity to raise global awareness on how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect the environment, and boost economic development. Events are being organised around the world to celebrate the IYPH and to highlight the vital role of national and regional plant health organisations in protecting plants from damaging pests and diseases. You can find out more information by visiting the Plant Health Portal.
The UK has designated a new Plant Health Week from 20th to 27th April, which encompasses World Earth Day on 22nd April.
Ash Archive
Three thousand trees have been planted in Hampshire as part of a pioneering project by Defra to tackle Ash Dieback. The UK’s first Ash Archive has been established using £1.9 million of government funding and is the culmination of projects spanning 5 years to identify ash with a high tolerance to the disease. The archive is a major step towards maintaining and restoring ash in the British landscape. It is intended that it will provide the basis for a breeding programme of tolerant ash over time and will enable the development of orchards producing commercially available seed.
Summary of advice on Ash Dieback
Since there is so much need for advice on Ash Dieback currently, we include an updated version of the table sent in a previous e-alert, with the addition of some very useful guidance produced recently by the Arboricultural Association.
| FC Guidance | ||||
| Managing Ash Dieback in England (scroll down to “Latest”) | Introductory Leaflet | August 2019 | ||
| Management of individual ash trees with Ash Dieback | Operations Notes | 7 Aug 2019 | ||
| Managing Woodland SSSIs with Ash Dieback (FC/NE) | 24 June 2019 | |||
| Managing Ash in woodlands | 20 Sept 2018 | |||
| Ecological Impacts of Ash Dieback and Mitigation | Leaflet | July 2017 | ||
| Other Guidance | ||||
| Ash Dieback – Practice Guidance | Arboricultural Association | Nov 2019 | ||
| 10 Case Studies | Royal Forestry Society | July 2019 | ||
| Ash Dieback – An Action Plan Toolkit | Defra/Tree Council | Feb 2019 | ||
| Safety Guidance Note – Felling Dead Ash | Forest Industry Safety Accord/Euroforest | April 2018 | ||
| ADB – Farmer Information Sheet | NFU/FWAG/Devon Ash Dieback Resilience Forum | Sept 2019 | ||
Kate Tobin
Local Partnership Advisor
Thanks J
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