Ash dieback not as severe as many had feared
While new infections have been detected, they haven’t been as severe as many had feared.
Up to November, 2014, there were confirmed findings of ash dieback (Chalara fraxinea) in 41 forestry plantations (including 13 in 2014); 17 in horticultural nurseries (three in 2014); four in garden centres (three in 2014); four in private gardens (three in 2014); 21 in farm or agri-environmental planting (three in 2014); 24 in roadside planting (seven in 2014); and two in hedgerows (both in 2014).
Of the 113 findings, 30 were in 2014.
Ireland’s first positive finding of ash dieback was in October, 2012.
Widespread throughout Europe, it decimated about 90% of Denmark’s ash population, and poses a particular threat to Ireland’s manufacture of about 250,000 ash hurleys per year.
