Highland plantation offers hope against ash dieback

A MASSIVE new tree nursery in the Highlands may help to slow the spread of ash dieback, the disease that is ravaging our native woodlands.

The Coigach-Assynt Living Landscape project – a partnership of local landowners, led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust – is establishing a plantation at Little Assynt, five miles east of Lochinver in Sutherland.

Tree nursery manager Nick Clooney has been recruited to grow trees from seed collected in locations throughout the Coigach and Assynt area. This will avoid the need to bring in planting stock and so lessen the risk of importing disease.

Project manager Viv Halcrow said: “Recent research from Sweden has shown that some strains of ash can resist dieback disease, so it is important that the genetic diversity of our ash populations is maintained.

“The disease is likely to have a devastating effect on woodlands across the UK. It is vital we save our native ash trees and ash woodlands as the species is very important in biodiversity terms, supporting many other species, as well as being a beautiful mature tree.”