Woodland Trust helps landowners to tackle tree disease

Woodland Trust helps landowners to tackle tree disease in the Kent Downs The Woodland Trust is urging landowners to plant trees in the fight to protect the landscape of the Kent Downs from the increasing effects of ash dieback. The untreatable disease has now been confirmed in every county across England and it is estimated around 95 per cent of the 150 million ash trees in England, Scotland and Wales will be lost, with Kent being particularly hard hit. Woodland Trust outreach adviser Luke Everitt said: “Ash is the most prevalent tree in Kent and the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty was one of the first areas to notice the rapid spread of the disease. “We’ve been working closely with the AONB and are one of the supporting partners of the Ash Project, an urgent cultural response to the devastating effects of ash dieback in the area. As part of the partnership, the Trust is offering landowners heavily subsidised packs of 45 trees to mitigate against the loss and to help create a more resilient landscape for the future.” The special packs contain 45 one to two year old trees, chosen from species carefully selected to best replace trees which will be lost to disease and preserve and strengthen the landscape against future threats. There are four mixes depending on the soil they will be planted in.

• Clay – hornbeam, oak and wild cherry;
• Sand – beech, rowan and small-leaved lime;
• Wet – alder, oak and goat willow; and
• Chalk – beech, field maple and small-leaved lime.

Mr Everitt added: “Ash dieback is the most commonly known threat currently. Our tree packs give landowners the opportunity to pre-empt any losses while at the same time providing a whole host of other benefits such as shade, shelter, improved soil and water quality and creating homes for wildlife.” To get your subsidised pack for £66.25, a saving of 60 per cent, visit https://shop.woodlandtrust.org.uk/kentdowns