Ash is one of the most common trees along hedgerows, field boundaries, roadsides and garden edges across the region, which is exactly why ash dieback matters to Chester homeowners and landowners. This guide explains how to recognise the disease and what your responsibilities actually are, and when a tree health assessment or removal makes sense.

What Is Ash Dieback?

Ash dieback is a highly destructive disease of ash trees caused by a fungus, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (the disease was formerly linked to the name Chalara fraxinea, which is why you’ll also see it called chalara). It was first confirmed in Britain in 2012 and is now found across most parts of the UK, so it can no longer be contained — management is about safety and long-term planning rather than eradication.

How to Spot the Symptoms

Not every unhealthy ash has dieback, so a professional diagnosis matters. Typical warning signs include:

• Blackening and wilting of leaves and shoots — often among the first symptoms, appearing in mid to late summer
• Dieback in the crown — dead twigs and branches progressing from the tips inward
• Lesions on the bark — diamond-shaped or darkened patches on twigs and branches
• Basal lesions — cankers forming near the bottom of the trunk, which can weaken the tree and make it more likely to fall
• Epicormic shoots — clusters of new shoots sprouting from the trunk or main limbs as the tree tries to compensate

Remember that a poor canopy isn’t always caused by ash dieback — drought, other diseases and root problems can look similar. First check you actually have an ash: the Woodland Trust has a good identification guide.

Are You Legally Required to Remove an Infected Ash?

In England, the Forestry Commission’s position is that owners are not legally required to take any particular action over infected ash trees unless the forestry or plant health authority serves a Statutory Plant Health Notice requiring it. That said, as the owner you still have a duty of care: if a tree or branch falls and injures someone or damages property, liability can come back to you.

When Should an Infected Ash Be Felled?

Current guidance advises against felling living ash trees purely because they are infected, since research suggests a small proportion — up to around 5% — may be genetically tolerant and could help ash survive in the UK. The exception is safety. Action is likely to be needed where an infected ash is within falling distance of:

• Houses, garages and other buildings
• Roads, pavements and public footpaths
• Gardens, play areas and other places people use regularly
• Power lines and other services

In those cases the tree may need pruning to remove dead limbs, or felling altogether. Dead and brittle ash can fail suddenly, so this is work for an insured, qualified crew — see our tree felling and removal service, and our guide to choosing a tree surgeon.

Check for Protection and Wildlife First

Before work on any ash, there are two legal checks that catch people out:

• Protected status — the tree may be covered by a Tree Preservation Order or sit in a conservation area; see our guide to Tree Preservation Orders in Chester before any cutting
• Wildlife — old and dying ash often hosts nesting birds and bat roosts; work during the nesting season (roughly March to August) needs ecological care, and disturbing roosts or active nests is an offence

Felling licences are issued by the Forestry Commission in some circumstances, so a good contractor will check whether one is needed when larger volumes of timber are involved.

What to Do With the Wood

Ash timber and firewood from infected trees is considered a low risk for spreading the disease, and ash burns well when seasoned. The leaves are the main way the fungus spreads, so clearing and collecting fallen ash leaf litter helps. Check your local council’s rules before putting infected material into garden waste bins, as some councils ask that it isn’t moved off site.

Report It and Replant

You can help track the disease by reporting signs of tree pests and diseases using Forest Research’s TreeAlert service. If you lose an ash, replanting with a mix of suitable native species is far better than replacing like with like; a tree surgeon or arboricultural consultant can advise on species that suit your soil and site.

What a Professional Assessment Involves

• A visual inspection of the crown, trunk and base for lesions and decay
• A judgement on whether the tree is a risk to people or property
• A recommendation: monitor, prune, or fell, with timing around wildlife
• A check on TPO and conservation area status before anything is cut
• A written quote and a plan for waste, stump and replanting

Further Reading and Authoritative Sources

For independent, up-to-date guidance, these organisations are worth bookmarking:

• GOV.UK — Managing ash dieback in England — official Forestry Commission / Defra guidance for owners
• Forest Research — Managing Ash Dieback in England — briefing for anyone who owns or manages ash trees
• Arboricultural Association — Ash Dieback Practice Guidance — practical advice for owners, contractors and consultants
• The Tree Council — UK charity for trees and tree-planting advice

FAQs

Does every ash tree with ash dieback die?

No. Not all ash trees will die as a direct result of infection, and evidence from Europe suggests a small proportion are naturally tolerant, which is why unnecessary felling of living ash is discouraged.

Do I have to cut down an infected ash tree on my land?

There’s generally no legal requirement unless an official notice is served, but you remain responsible for safety, so trees near buildings, roads or paths often need work.

Can I burn ash dieback wood?

Yes — ash is considered a low risk for spreading the disease through timber and burns well when seasoned.

How do I know it’s ash dieback and not drought?

Only an inspection can tell you reliably, since poor canopy condition can have several causes. Book a tree health check if you’re unsure.

Worried about an ash tree near your home or boundary in Chester? Book a professional assessment: Contact Us