CLA will hold Defra to pledge on tackling tree disease

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) today (26 March) welcomed the Government’s Chalara Management Plan and said it would work closely with Defra to ensure the commitment to tackling tree pests and diseases is at the top of the Environment Secretary’s agenda.

CLA North Regional Director Dorothy Fairburn said: “We worked closely with Defra to help produce the plan for dealing with ash dieback and are delighted to see so many of our recommendations taken on board, such as the decision to trial potential chemical treatments.

“We are particularly pleased the Government has resisted the temptation to issue compulsory felling notices and chosen to give landowners help towards the costs of removing and replacing young infected ash trees.”

Miss Fairburn added: “The CLA will work closely with Defra to ensure Environment Secretary Owen Paterson delivers his commitment to devote more resources to tackling other tree pests and diseases, such as Acute Oak Decline and Sweet Chestnut Blight.”

Trees suffering ash dieback have been found widely across Europe but the disease was unknown in this country until recently. The first cases were confirmed last year on ash plants which had been imported from the Netherlands. Since then, more infected plants have been confirmed at sites throughout the North.