Enjoy them whilst you can!

These are the black winter buds of the ash tree (Fraxinus excelsior). Sadly these magnificent trees are in great danger of disappearing from our landscape due to a fungal disease known ash dieback.

Ash dieback is caused by the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (previously known by the names Chalara fraxinea and Hymenoschyphus pseudoalbidus). It blocks the water transport systems in trees causing leaf loss, lesions in the wood and on the bark and ultimately the dieback of the crown of the tree.

This disease was first described in Poland in 1992 and has since swept westwards throughout Europe. It was first identified in Britain in 2012 in nursery stock then in the wider environment in 2013 although it could have been in the country much longer. It is now widespread and expanding its range as can be seen from the distribution map.