New cases of ash tree disease found in Shropshire
Three new cases of ash dieback disease have been found in and around Shropshire. The cases have been reported in saplings in Telford and near Ludlow and Tenbury Wells.
Nearly 500 trees at the new Dawley Learning Community site will be destroyed, Telford & Wrekin Council said. The 485 trees were planted a year ago on the site where the replacement for the Phoenix School is being built.
The council alerted the Forestry Commission after decayed leaves and sunken brown areas on the bark were spotted by an officer.
Councillor Shaun Davies, cabinet member for neighbourhood services, said: "This has been identified as a result of vigilance by council staff and we are now taking steps to clear the site of trees that are infected."
The other cases have been reported at sites to the south of Ludlow and to the east of Tenbury Wells.
A spokeswoman for Defra said: "The saplings would have been planted in nurseries and destroyed once the disease was found."
