Ash to Ashes

Ash to Ashes

The European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is the UKs the third most common native tree and provides habitats and resources for over 1000 other species. Ash trees provide unique habitat services through leaf litter composition, fast nutrient cycling and light penetrable canopies.  Ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) is a species of fungus originating from East Asia and has spread rapidly through the UK following its introduction via the importation of infected trees from mainland Europe to the UK. It was first recorded in southeast England in 2012, however it is thought it may have been present in the UK since 2005. The spores of the fungus are easily spread over many kilometres by the wind making it difficult to control. It is estimated that up to 80% of all ash trees within the UK will be affected by ash dieback in the future. The European ash has no natural defences against this fungus, unlike the native hosts, the Manchurian ash (Fraxinus mandshurica) and the Chinese ash...
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Destination UK

Destination UK

How the Rise in British Temperatures is Causing a Rise in Exotic Tourists.   Changes in global temperatures have a direct impact on the distribution of many species. Rising temperatures over recent years have caused an increase in the number of exotic animal and plant visitors to the UK, and has allowed them to stay. Stephen Moss, a naturalist, writer and broadcaster highlighted numerous examples of novel visitors to the UK in a recent Guardian article, including the blackcap, cattle egret, chiffchaff, little egret, long-tailed blue butterfly, clifden nonpareil, hummingbird hawkmoth and deaths-head hawkmoth. Moss points out that ‘sightings of these more unusual species is exciting, especially for nature enthusiasts’, but they are also evidence that climate change is driving rapid alterations to our native ecosystems.  Exotic species are being attracted by warmer climates and an abundance of food, dubbed the ‘honeymoon period’, allowing species to thrive on improved conditions (Moss, 2020). However, a tipping point of these conditions is likely to be...
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