Latest news with #ashdieback
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Peak District ravine woodlands restored with 84,000 trees
Tens of thousands of trees have been planted to help restore the Peak District's "critically damaged" woodland five-year, £5m LIFE in the Ravines project has placed more than 84,000 native trees at the sites of ancient woodlands in Derbyshire "devastated" by ash dieback, specifically the Peak District Dales Special Area of Evans, woodland restoration manager for Natural England, said the scheme "shows what can be achieved when we work with nature rather than against it".The government organisation said it had restored up to a quarter of the region's damaged woodlands. A mix of native trees, including large and small-leaved lime and wych elm, have been planted to make the woodlands more resilient. Without the work, Natural England said "entire woodlands" would have been lost to ash dieback, the fungal disease that kills ash Evans said: "These restored ravine woodlands are truly unique habitats."By planting 84,000 trees, we're not just replacing what was lost to ash dieback - we're creating more diverse and resilient woodlands that will thrive for generations to come."Natural England added there had been "success" with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust-managed sites, with 16,000 trees planted in the Wye Valley including Cramside, Cheedale, and Millers Dale. Kyle Winney, living landscape officer for the trust, said: "Although it's devastating to see the effects of ash dieback, it has provided us an opportunity."Seeds collected from existing trees within the ravines are being grown by specialist nurseries and community groups. This approach "ensures planted trees can thrive in the challenging conditions of steep, rocky limestone terrain", Natural England added.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists stunned by 'remarkable' phenomenon found in trees threatened by deadly disease: 'Our new findings give us new hope'
Scientists stunned by 'remarkable' phenomenon found in trees threatened by deadly disease: 'Our new findings give us new hope' A glimmer of hope has emerged for Britain's beloved ash trees. According to a new study published in Science, some wild ash trees are becoming genetically resistant to the deadly ash dieback fungus. Researchers are calling the development a "remarkable" example of evolution in real time, according to The Guardian. The disease, caused by the invasive fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, has wiped out millions of trees across the United Kingdom and Europe and is projected to kill up to 85% of nonresistant ash trees, costing the U.K. an estimated £15 billion (about $20 billion). But new DNA analysis of ash saplings growing after the fungus' arrival reveals subtle genetic shifts that are helping younger trees survive in infected forests. "Our new findings give us new hope," said professor Richard Buggs of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Queen Mary University of London. "Through the death of millions of ash trees, a more resistant population of ash is appearing." One ash tree can produce up to 10,000 genetically unique seeds per year, providing numerous opportunities for natural selection. Researchers found that saplings growing through fungus-laden leaf litter were more likely to survive if they carried certain genetic variations, confirming Charles Darwin's theory that countless small changes can fuel major evolutionary leaps. This isn't just good news for the trees; it's a win for communities, public health, and local biodiversity. Ash trees are vital to woodland ecosystems, supporting diverse insect and bird species. They also play an important role in purifying the air and capturing and storing carbon, a gas that contributes to rising global temperatures when released into the atmosphere. Protecting the trees means cleaner air and a safer future for local communities. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. While researchers say that human support may still be needed through selective breeding or gene editing, they're optimistic about what this breakthrough means for conservation science. Similar inspiring stories, such as the evolutionary adaptation of old-growth forests and new strategies to protect trees from diseases, show that resilient ecosystems can thrive when science and nature work together. Professor Richard Nichols of Queen Mary University London added, "We are watching evolution happen and what's remarkable is that it's happening so quickly, in a single generation." "The findings highlight how vital it is to support natural regeneration in woodlands, furthering our understanding of how to best manage our ash woodlands," said Rebecca Gosling of the Woodland Trust. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
BBC News
19-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Cambridge wood closed as wildlife trust says trees are 'unsafe'
A wood has been closed to the public after the recent dry weather has caused its trees to become "unsafe", a trust said. The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire said Ansetts Wood, at Fulbourn Fen, Cambridge, was shut after a safety inspection. It said that the warm temperatures had "added to the issue of ash dieback". The area remains off limits while further assessments and work was completed to ensure it was safe for the public, it said on its website. The charity thanked visitors for their patience and it added their safety was its "top priority". It said other areas of the Fulbourn Fen remained open. Ash dieback, which is a fungus and originated in Asia, has spread across the country, the trust said. It has led to "the death of thousands of trees and heads to branches dying, and leaves become blackened". Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
28-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Diseased ash trees in Redditch to be felled to protect residents
Trees infected with a deadly disease will be felled in order to protect public Borough Council plan to cut down a number of ash trees along Birchfield Road, from the top of Bromsgrove Road to the slip road for Bromsgrove Highway, in Webhealth, that are infected with ash dieback. The disease leads to leaf loss, branch die and ultimately tree death, however it also poses risk to humans and animals as weakened branches can suddenly fall. Jen Snape from the local authority said it was "imperative" to look after the environment and remove any trees that could become "a safety risk to residents". Orange marks had been placed on infected trees, with work expected to get underway in the coming months, a spokesperson for the borough council said. They added that the removed trees would not be replanted, as the surrounding trees and vegetation were "sufficient to allow natural regeneration". Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Shoots of hope for Britain's cherished ash trees
Ash trees are fighting back against a disease that has ravaged the British countryside, new scientific evidence shows. When ash dieback arrived in 2012, predictions suggested up to 85% of ash trees could be lost. But now scientists have discovered that ash woodlands are naturally evolving greater resistance to the infection. The discovery offers renewed hope that the much-loved trees will survive in the British landscape. "It is hope born out of the death of a lot of trees," said Prof Richard Buggs of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, and Queen Mary University of London. But he said other interventions would be needed to give ash trees a helping hand, such as protecting trees from grazing deer and breeding the most resilient trees for future planting schemes. "We have fresh motivation to look after our ash populations, to protect them from other problems like deer browsing, and to let nature take its course and evolve trees with more resistance," he told BBC News. The Ash dieback fungus originated in Asia and was introduced to Europe about 30 years ago. The study of ash trees at a woodland in Surrey revealed subtle shifts over time in different genes, which should help new saplings fight back against it. The trees are evolving greater resistance to the disease than their predecessors - an example of Charles Darwin's natural selection theory in action. Richard Nichols, professor of evolutionary genetics at Queen Mary University of London, said a "tragedy for the trees has been a revelation for scientists: allowing us to show that thousands of genes are contributing to the ash trees' fightback against the fungus". Ash dieback demonstrates how devastating introduced pathogens can be for our trees and the species which rely upon them, said Rebecca Gosling of the Woodland Trust. "The findings highlight how vital it is to support natural regeneration in woodlands, furthering our understanding of how to best manage our ash woodlands," she said. Scientists had feared the ash would go the way of the elm, which has been almost wiped out by Dutch elm disease. The loss of the native tree would have a devastating effect on biodiversity as well as changing the face of the landscape. Since its arrival in Britain in 2012, ash dieback has spread to every corner of the British Isles, causing widespread damage to woodlands. Ash fungus genetic code unravelled Alarm call as world's trees slide towards extinction Ash tree set for extinction in Europe Signs of the disease can be seen through withered and blighted leaves. In many cases the fungal disease will eventually kill the tree. The research is published in the journal, Science.
