Farming Monthly National December 2017 | Page 37

| LAMMA Join the fight against tree disease The threat of tree disease gripping our countryside, roadside trees and hedgerows is one of our biggest issues at the moment. ur trees and woods are less able to withstand the impacts of pests and diseases since they're already under great pressure from pollution, urban development and climate change. The loss of millions of trees in the wider countryside, fields, hedgerows and on roadsides will have a catastrophic impact on our landscape and biodiversity. Chalara, dieback of ash (ash dieback) is the most well-known UK tree disease but there are many more. Ash dieback has swept across the countryside since it was first identified in 2012. The loss of millions of ash trees from our landscapes will have a direct impact on soil erosion, water management, livestock shelter and wildlife habitats. The Woodland Trust is at the forefront of tackling this issue and developing solutions to fight against tree disease, including: · Conducting research so we can understand more about the O www.farmingmonthly.co.uk spread and possible prevention of pests and diseases · Surveillance of pests and disease spread across the UK with volunteer and citizen science schemes · Encouraging resilient landscapes through responsible tree procurement and planting · Working to influence MPs and improve legislation Your support is vital in our fight against tree disease. You can help protect the countryside from tree pests and diseases by applying for one of the Woodland Trust’s ‘targeting tree disease’ packs. You can renew your landscape, restore existing woodland and hedgerows and regenerate countryside that is threatened by disease. The packs contain 45 one to two year old trees which the charity has chosen from species carefully selected to best replace trees which will be lost to disease and to strengthen the landscape against other threats. Applicants can choose three species from oak, wild cherry, silver birch, hornbeam and beech. Image: WTML/V Cheston The packs are made up of large trees suited to growing on large plots of land. The packs cost £62 and also include 1.2m protective tubes and stakes and have been subsidised by the Woodland Trust to help with the fight against tree disease. The Trust is aiming to plant 64m trees by 2025 and all its trees are grown in the UK from seed sourced from locations also throughout the UK. Please see The Woodland Trust on stand 749 at LAMMA. December 2017 | Farming Monthly | 37