Leaves withering too early- a cause of concern?

What seems like a premature withering of leaves on certain trees is causing concern to some readers. After all, we’re only just moving into autumn and it’s early to be happening.

Tadhg Nash, from Ovens, Co Cork, has a keen interest in oak and beech. In a number of locations, including around Crookstown and Templemartin, in mid-Cork; in the Muckross area of Killarney National Park, Co Kerry, and in Adare, Co Limerick, he found a significant number of mature beech trees had severe symptoms of leaf-browning and withering, in August.