Now trees and shrubs face sudden death

THE news that Sudden Oak Death has reached Ireland is sad but long expected. Up to seven different strains of this disease have been found in tree nurseries in Europe and I have often watched trees and shrubs being brought into Ireland and planted without checks or investigations.

This happens every year all over the country.

Three years ago I informed the relevant government departments about this. I believe we should establish a degree course in arboriculture and tree pathology in Irish universities — something that’s urgently needed because a changing climate will bring in more of these diseases.

Obviously we will need more highly trained people to deal with this.

I was informed that tree care is adequate in Ireland — something akin to a bad joke. As a small-time environmentalist I accept I will be ridiculed and probably ignored, but the message is important — not the messenger.

Just now we are as wide open to plant attack as we are to poverty or economic abuse.

I have been researching the problems affecting chestnut trees — something that is being met almost with indifference, but these are just as bad for our chestnut trees as are the problems discovered on our oaks .

Many of these viruses and bacterias are new and unknown. They have the possibilities to ‘jump’ from one plant species to the next and the situation can only get worse.

John Farrelly, BSc Hort

Ballybough Road

Dublin 3