Ash dieback has recently been confirmed at the Earth Trust’s Paradise Woods, near Long Wittenham, just 6 miles from Upton!
Ash dieback, also known as Chalara, was first recorded in the UK in 2012. Since then it has spread to most areas of the UK. The latest information from the Forestry Commission shows that the disease has spread close to Upton, with records to the North, South and East of the village.
Chalara is a serious disease of Ash trees and is caused by the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. Symptoms include leaf loss, crown dieback and bark lesions. Once a tree is infected it is usually fatal and unfortunately we have many long established trees in this parish. The spaces left are likely to be similar to those left in this parish when the Dutch Elm disease struck in the late 1970s.
Please see the Forestry Commission’s website for the latest advice on management and identification forestry.gov.uk/ashdieback . The Winter Symptoms video towards the bottom of the page is excellent, and also see chalaramap.fera.defra.gov.uk/ for the latest records of the disease.