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Lake District forests hit by ash dieback disease Lake District forests hit by ash dieback disease
(35 minutes later)
Trees at four different sites in the Lake District have been found infected with ash dieback disease, according to the Forestry Commission. The sites include areas of woodland near Ambleside and Keswick.Trees at four different sites in the Lake District have been found infected with ash dieback disease, according to the Forestry Commission. The sites include areas of woodland near Ambleside and Keswick.
It is not known how the trees became infected with the Hymenoscyphus fraxineus fungus (which was originally called Chalara fraxinea). Charlton Clark, a spokesman for the Forestry Commission, said: “The disease can be spread either by spores of the fungus being carried by the wind or by movement of infected ash plants, whose spores can then be blown to neighbouring trees. It could have arrived in the Lake District by either or both these means.”It is not known how the trees became infected with the Hymenoscyphus fraxineus fungus (which was originally called Chalara fraxinea). Charlton Clark, a spokesman for the Forestry Commission, said: “The disease can be spread either by spores of the fungus being carried by the wind or by movement of infected ash plants, whose spores can then be blown to neighbouring trees. It could have arrived in the Lake District by either or both these means.”
The disease has spread widely across Europe since trees were first reported dying in large numbers in Poland in 1992. It was first confirmed in the UK in February 2012, when it was found in a consignment of infected trees sent from a nursery in the Netherlands to a nursery in Buckinghamshire, England.The disease has spread widely across Europe since trees were first reported dying in large numbers in Poland in 1992. It was first confirmed in the UK in February 2012, when it was found in a consignment of infected trees sent from a nursery in the Netherlands to a nursery in Buckinghamshire, England.
Related: Ash dieback 'could affect 75% of trees in worst-hit areas'
Clark said the commission’s focus was now on helping woodland owners limit the impacts of the disease and replace ash trees with the most appropriate alternative species. It is also conducting genetic research to improve tolerance and resistance so that tolerant ash trees can be bred for the future.Clark said the commission’s focus was now on helping woodland owners limit the impacts of the disease and replace ash trees with the most appropriate alternative species. It is also conducting genetic research to improve tolerance and resistance so that tolerant ash trees can be bred for the future.
“We want to ensure that the graceful ash tree continues to have a place in our forests and landscapes. That’s why we’re protecting non-infected areas where we can, and conducting a range of research to understand the disease, including genetic research to improve tolerance and resistance,” he said.“We want to ensure that the graceful ash tree continues to have a place in our forests and landscapes. That’s why we’re protecting non-infected areas where we can, and conducting a range of research to understand the disease, including genetic research to improve tolerance and resistance,” he said.
About 90% of Denmark’s ash trees are already infected with the disease and in October 2012 the UK government banned imports of ash trees from Europe in an attempt to halt the spread of the disease.About 90% of Denmark’s ash trees are already infected with the disease and in October 2012 the UK government banned imports of ash trees from Europe in an attempt to halt the spread of the disease.