Take on powerful lobby and protect ash trees

The news that ash dieback is spreading was sadly expected. Recently it was found in a native, homegrown ash tree, growing in a hedge, but near the first found outbreak, which was on imported ash trees.

This means that the disease has jumped from its original source and now threatens all our ash trees.

That it was found in a hedge is also hugely important. Our hedges are full of ash and are being cut and flailed yearly, often twice, under government and EU-financed, but misnamed, environmental schemes.