LATEST figures show ash dieback is in the central Borders in new planted areas, though not yet in the wider environment.
Data and maps from Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) show the ash tree killer in two young woodlands near Langholm, at two sites between Langholm and Hawick, and in one planting on the English side if the border near Jedburgh.
After it was found in a wood near Eyemouth last year, the disease is now in at least four woods in the wider environment, but not in any new plantings, in Berwickshire so far. But an FCS spokesman warned this week the information was likely already out of date.
Last week, FCS published three tree health action plans to help save ash trees, larches and native pines affected by diseases. The new guidelines follow an ash dieback update meeting in Moffat last Monday when tree health policy advisor Hugh Clayden gave the latest ash dieback figures, along with guidance on how to identify and manage diseased woodland.
The FCS plans to tackle Chalara (ash dieback), Dothistroma needle blight (DNB) which affects pines, and Ramorum which kills larch trees, centring on increasing awareness, containing the diseased area and developing management techniques as more knowledge becomes available.
FCS data show Ramorum in a forest near Langholm and DNB affecting five forests in the region. An FCS spokesman said: “The countryside remains open and there is no threat to human or animal health from these diseases.”