Ash in the Wight Landscape
The ash tree is an important element of the landscape of the Isle of Wight. Ash is currently a commonly seen tree, widespread in woods and along roadside verges. It is perhaps more noticeable in the landscape as a single hedgerow or field tree. Nationally, Ash is an important timber tree with its hard wearing wood being used in furniture making, house interiors and wooden implements. Ash dieback is a highly destructive disease that has spread across Europe and which is now present in the UK. It is a disease that is sadly going to kill many of our trees and in turn this will have a significant impact on our Island landscape. My project here is to monitor a number of ash trees in the West Wight landscape, both as a record and also to see how they progress against the disease. The project is informal and non scientific.