The spread of ash dieback in Ireland
Ash dieback disease was first found in Ireland in October 2012, although it is likely to have been present for a number of years prior to that, probably introduced on planting material. In the 10 years since it was first found, surveys for the disease have been conducted year-on-year since.
The recently published Forestry Statistics Ireland 2023 report from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), illustrates how ash dieback has spread in recent years.
The report notes that the disease can now be found on ash in every county, suggesting rapid spread by way of aerial dispersal of spores. In addition to forest surveys, staff in the Department of Agricultre, Food and the Marine have conducted surveys in horticultural nurseries, garden centres, private gardens, roadside landscaping and farm agri-environment scheme plantings.
The surveys conducted in 2022 included a survey in a selection of 10x10km grid squares, where there had not previously been a confirmed positive. By the end of 2022, there had been findings in ash in all 26 counties in over 695 locations in various settings including: forests; nurseries and garden centres; on farm planting; roadside planting; hedgerows; and private gardens.
In light of the increasing numbers of findings, DAFM switched to mapping findings on the basis of whether the disease has been found in 10km grid squares rather than showing and recording individual findings. Figure 1 from the Forest Statistics Ireland 2023 report below displays the findings as of 31st December 2022, as illustrated on a 10x10km grid square basis.
Figure 1: Ash Dieback findings in Ireland 2013 –2022
Read the full Forest Statistics Ireland 2023 report
Symptoms of ashdie back
The wide range of symptoms associated with ash dieback includes:
- Foliage wilt and discolouration;
- Brown / orange discolouration of bark with diamond shape;
- Dieback of shoots, twigs or main stem resulting in crown dieback;
- Necrotic lesions and cankers along the bark of branches or main stem;
- Epicormic branching or excessive side shoots along the main stem.
Watch the below video from the Teagasc Forestry Department for more information on the symptoms of ash dieback:
Also read: Legal requirements for felling trees with ash dieback