Ash Die Back
As one of our native hardwood trees, Ash can be found all over the country from hedgerows to forests, parklands to gardens and is a well-loved tree species for its biodiversity, fantastic qualities as a timber species and as a desirable firewood.
Over the last year or so we have noticed an increasing presence Ash Dieback disease or Chalara (Hymenoscyphus Fraxineus) within Central Scotland and as tree lovers, this is particularly sad news as the mortality rate of the disease is very high. Having only been present within the UK since 2012, there are still lots of unknows in relation to Ash Die Back with the following advice issued from Forestry Research, the research agency of the Forestry Commission:
With the exceptions of felling for public safety or timber production, we advise a general presumption against felling living ash trees, whether infected or not. This is because there is good evidence that a small proportion will be able to tolerate H. fraxineus infection. There is also the possibility that a proportion of ash trees can become diseased, but then recover to good health.”
Sadly the felling of infected Ash trees will be an unavoidable outcome for landowners and managers to preserve public safety and infrastructure. Diseased Ash trees require a special approach to fell safely as even apparently sound trees can have their structural integrity severely compromised following a Chalara infection which makes more conventional and traditional means of felling inappropriate and potentially dangerous.
OTS has experience of felling disease ridden hardwood trees, often in difficult location such as along roadsides and on steep banks. We also possess the specialist plant and equipment to make felling as safe and efficient an operation as possible whilst being able to call in specialists to provide a full range of traffic control measures or elevating work platforms as required.
