First ash tree disease case found in Shropshire
The first confirmed case of the deadly disease which is threatening Britain's ash trees has been found in Shropshire, the Government said today.
An isolated site south of Church Stretton, in south Shropshire, has been listed on a 'contaminated' sites map being compiled and continually updated by the Forestry Commission.
But the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said no cases of ash dieback had been found in the wider Shropshire area but encouraged people to report suspected cases.
A spokesman for Defra said: "One case was reported to the south of Church Stretton, in Shropshire, and it was a recently-planted site which means it had young sapling trees which would have since been destroyed.
"It was confirmed in this area but it is not a wider environment like a forest and, so far, it hasn't been found in the wider Shropshire environment, which would be more worrying.
"Nothing has been found near Shrewsbury yet but we would encourage people to get in touch with us and report any suspected cases immediately to the Forestry Commission."
Ash disease is now an epidemic, says expert. See today's Shropshire Star
