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.