Over the last few days, news reports have revealed that British ash trees are threatened by a disease called ash dieback. The disease could devastate the 80 million ash trees across Britain. But people power can help try to stop it.
Computer programmers have teamed up with tree experts to make a clever piece of software called AshTag. It lets people send in photos and locations of ash trees they think may have ash dieback. The photos are checked by a team of experts and then action is taken to try to stop the spread of the disease.
Once trees lose their leaves, it’s much harder to spot the signs of ash
dieback. So this could be the last chance to
gather information about the health of our ash trees before spring. If you’re going for a walk in the woods, can you help identify ash trees in danger?
If you have a smartphone or a digital camera, it’s simple. If you spot an ash tree with signs of the disease, take a photo and send it in using the website or the AshTag app on your mobile phone.
If you have an iPhone you can download the AshTag app by searching the App Store on your phone for “AshTag” or by clicking here:
https://itunes.apple.com/app/ashtag/id574320875?mt=8
If you have an Android phone search for “AshTag” in the Google Play store from your phone or use this link:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.iasess.ashtag
If you don’t have a smartphone you can take a digital photo and upload it onto the website here: http://www.ashtag.org
Government has taken a few steps to try and stop the spread of the disease. But there’s a real danger these measures won’t be enough - and without tracking tree health, we won’t know whether or not the government’s plans are working.
In Denmark this deadly disease has wiped out 90% of ash trees.
Click here to help protect our woodlands and find out how to spot signs of ash dieback: http://www.ashtag.org
