Sir, – I note with great sadness that the UK seems to have accepted that the tree fungus Chalara fraxinea is now unstoppable. Thus it is probable that 90 per cent of all that country’s ash trees will die.
I am aware that ash seedlings with the disease were imported into the North. What, if anything is the Department of Agriculture doing about the disease here and is it contemplating introducing a tougher customs regime for all plants? – Yours, etc,