Ash dieback spreads in Wales

The ash tree disease Chalara fraxinea enters 2013 with a vengeance and three new confirmed sites in Wales.

The three newly confirmed areas are recently planted sites in private woodland located in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.

The young trees have been destroyed to prevent further spread of the  contagious disease.

John Browne of Forestry Commission Wales said: “While these newly confirmed infections have extended the known distribution of this disease in Wales, there is still no evidence that Chalara is present in the wider environment here.”

The new cases were discovered during a ‘trace forward’ inspection of trees purchased from known infected nurseries.

The UK government has created an emergency disease control plan and banned the import and movement of ash plants and seed into and within the country in an effort to limit its spread.