Thursday 15 November 2012
The first case of ash dieback has been confirmed in Guernsey.
The disease, caused by the fungus Chalara fraxinea was found on recently imported ash trees at a site in the south east of Guernsey. All 86 ash trees from the consignment have been removed and destroyed.
It is to be hoped that the landowner's positive co-operation by agreeing to the prompt removal and destruction of all the young trees in the plantation, even before the positive lab diagnosis was received, may have dealt with this outbreak.
Mr Nigel Clark, Plant Health Inspector for Guernsey said:
"This finding underlines the importance of inspecting all recently imported ash trees. Finding infection early before it becomes established is essential if the islands ash trees are to be protected."
Strict import controls on Ash trees are in place and the monitoring of all known sites planted in the last three years will continue. Anyone who has planted ash trees in the past three years are asked to notify Plant Health at Commerce & Employment so that their trees can be inspected. Anyone with older ash trees on their land are also being asked to check their trees for symptoms.
More information on Ash Dieback, including symptoms to look out for, can be found at the UK Forestry Commission website at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara
Contact information:
Commerce and Employment Department
01481 234567
