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TV5899
Some of the natural highlights of Eastbourne are the large numbers of trees and the diversity of those trees. Unfortunately, many of the fine elms were lost in two outbreaks of Dutch elm disease in the 1920’s and the 1970’s. Elm trees continue to be at risk and more than 50 infected trees have been felled and removed from Eastbourne this month.
Ash is abundant and widespread in the Eastbourne area. Unfortunately, Ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) is currently active in the same area and it is doing much damage in woodlands such as those on the slopes of the South Downs. Ash dieback is an airborne fungus with its origins in eastern Asia. It evolved with native species of ash like Chinese ash and Manchurian ash which appear to have been able to resist infection. European varieties of ash, however, have been shown to have little or no natural resistance and the fungus is now widespread throughout Europe. The fungus attacks the vascular system of trees and, while older trees may be able to resist it for longer, it kills young trees very quickly. It has been estimated that approximately 95% of ash trees could die because of ash dieback. Although there is no known cure for the disease, it is thought that a very small percentage of trees have an in-built resistance and that these trees may hold the key to regenerating ash trees in the future.
The Eastbourne area is home to many ash trees but during the last year the fungus has spread rapidly and it has left thousands of trees in a dead or dying state. A diseased tree may become dangerous, when the branches, or the tree itself, becomes at risk of falling onto footpaths, property or people. In the area between Butts Brow and Meads, a five year plan is being implemented to deal with the situation. As there is no known cure, infected trees are being felled, stacked into log piles and then transported by lorries to a biomass facility. The work to remove infected trees began at Butts Brow in December 2019 but has now moved on to the wooded slopes of the Downs above Old Town in TV 5899. The work is mainly done in the winter months to avoid disturbance to people and wildlife. The work involves Eastbourne Borough Council and the Forestry Commission’s South East Team.
Ash dieback raises many questions including: how the ecosystem, in which ash trees have played a key role, will be affected by the removal of large numbers of trees; what mixture of resilient, native trees would make the best replacement and how such great changes to the landscape will be perceived by local people and others? Some people, for example, are likely to lament the loss of the ash trees while others are likely to welcome the creation of new woodland glades in which wildlife can flourish and the new vistas that are opened up by the removal of infected trees.
Adrian Diack MA (Hons)
TV5899 : Ash dieback wood stack and other logs by East Dean RoadTV5899 : Ash dieback logs stacked in Eastbourne's Youth Hostel car parkTV5899 : Features of woodland with ash diebackTV5899 : Wood chip surface along a woodland pathTV5899 : Ash dieback sign and trees with ash dieback near Eastbourne