Plea for Government help to save our ash trees

Bury has joined districts across Greater Manchester in asking the Government for help to stop ash die-back decimating our trees.

Council leaders say a co-ordinated plan of action, backed by substantial resources, is necessary to avoid a repeat of the Dutch elm disease episode which had a catastrophic impact on one of the UK’s most widespread tree species in the 1970s.

Councillor Alan Quinn, Bury’s cabinet member for the environment and climate change, said: “Ash die-back is now widespread, and more of our trees are at risk of failing, and falling.

“We have around 1,068,000 trees in Bury, of which 8-10% are ash trees: many of these are mature street trees. We are in danger of losing the vast majority of these to ash die-back.

“We need government help to pay for the removal of these trees and we must plant more trees just to catch up with the ones we'll lose to Ash Die Back and other diseases such as Chestnut Bleeding Canker and Acute Oak Decline."

The cost of removing and replanting has been estimated at over £360m across GM, and been described as an “ecological emergency” for the city region.

Council leader Eamonn O’Brien added: “Producing an ash die-back plan for the whole of Greater Manchester would be far more cost-effective and practical than each of the 10 districts producing their own plans.

“We’re calling on the Government to provide the help that is needed before it’s too late.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 6 July 2021.

Picture: Council leader Eamonn O’Brien (seated) signs the joint GM letter on behalf of Bury, with (back) Cllr Alan Quinn.