Supporting exceptionally high numbers of insects, lichens and bryophytes, ash is one of Scotland’s most important native tree species for biodiversity.
Sadly, ash dieback threatens the majority of ash trees across the UK, with mortality estimates ranging from 60% to 98%.
But all is not lost – evidence suggests around 1–3% of ash trees show a high degree of tolerance to this deadly disease, and we need your help to record them.
Ash dieback – or a resistance to ash dieback – is easiest to identify between June and early September, when the trees are in full leaf.
Afflicted trees suffer from widespread dieback of the shoots and leaves in the canopy above the main trunk, sometimes with wilted, discoloured leaves and lesions on the bark. Resistant trees, on the other hand, display minimal crown dieback (less than 10%). It’s these trees that we are keen to find and map.
We are particularly interested in healthy trees that are surrounded by other ash trees that are showing a high degree of dieback. That’s because a healthy tree growing on its own may simply not have been exposed to the disease yet, so may not be resistant. Trees showing up to 20% crown dieback are also of interest.
In areas with poor mobile coverage, make sure to open the online recording form on your phone before you lose signal. Then you can fill in as many forms as you want – the data will be stored on your phone and automatically submitted when signal or WiFi is restored.
You can report a tree quickly and easily using our online recording form.
If possible, please include a photograph of the tree, the location where it was found and any additional information which may be relevant. We ask for your name and contact details so that we can follow up with you should we need to. This information is useful but not mandatory.
If you have any questions about recording a disease-resistant ash, please contact Scotland@woodlandtrust.org.uk.
