Ash Dieback Disease

There has been lots in the press about ash-dieback disease and it now seems certain that Britain will see a huge loss of the ash trees right across the country over the next few years.  Being first reported in Eastern Europe in the early 90s, it has now been reported in nearly every European country. 

What are the symptoms?

• Black/brown discolouration of the leaf base and midrib
• Small lens shaped lesions or black spots on the bark of stems and branches
• Trees with withered tops and shoots

Start of the willow season

The willow season is with us again.  We are busy cutting and sorting the long rods into 6' to 11' lengths.  The willow has grown well this year, perhaps one thing that has actually benefited form all the rain!

Orders are coming in thick and fast along with a whole range of queries about willow and its uses.  We'll be busy cutting and delivering until the end of March now.

Office Move

We moved offices in the summer to the wonderful Malthouse in Standish.  It's perfect - lovely, airy offices with plenty of outside space.  We share the building with the Arboricultural Association (a nice fit with our business).

The views from the window include a huge, ancient yew tree which is playing host to hundreds of finches and field fares at the moment who are stripping it of berries, stocking up for the winter.

This heralds an expansion in the business, we have also taken on an extra member of staff this year, and a definite improvement in our working conditions.

Update to erosion control on the River Severn

We visited the live willow spiling on the River Severn (Sustrans cycle path) in the summer to see how it was growing.  It is doing amazingly well (see the 'after' photo) with lots of bushy growth.  It should help to capture the silt from the River (the River Severn is a heavily silt-laden water course) and prevent any further erosion to the bank.  

Sustrans have been very happy that the erosion control solution was low cost, low impact and did not necessitate the closing of the cycle path.