ASH dieback has been confirmed in established East Lancashire woodland for the first time, new data from the Forestry Commission has shown.

A map produced this week shows 851 sites nationwide were infected with chalara dieback of ash.

It shows a major concentration of the disease in the North West, with large swathes of the Forest of Bowland affected along with other sites in the Ribble Valley as well as Blackburn, Burnley, Darwen, and beyond.

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The Commission describes ash dieback as ‘a serious disease of ash trees caused by fungus. The disease causes leaf loss and crown dieback in affected trees and is usually fatal’. One of the identified sites is the Woodland Trust’s Greendale Wood, near Grindleton, which was only created in 2000 as part of the ‘Woods on your Doorstep’ project.

Between 20 and 40 young ash trees are showing signs of infection, causing concern for Trust bosses.

Woodland Trust director of conservation and external affairs Austin Brady, said: “It is of huge concern to see these cases of ash dieback confirmed in the North West.

“We must continue to explore all the possibilities which may provide a future for our ash trees.

“The impacts of the disease in the short term are becoming clearer, though we have yet to see how much natural resistance exists within our native ash population.

“We hope an increase in regeneration of other species can help us build diversity and resilience into our natural landscapes, to enable our natural habitats to cope with all the challenges they face, which will help them recover if any pest or disease strikes.”

Colin Riley, Woodland Trust site manager, said: “It is sad to have the disease confirmed at Greendale Wood which has developed into well-used local woodland.

“However, the relatively small number of ash trees at the site means there is no immediate threat to survival of this woodland as a whole.”