Regrettably, signs of ‘ash dieback’, also known as Chalara, have been identified in an area of the Common, where there are a large number of mature ash trees. The Council is working with the Chiltern Woodlands Project to try to prevent the spread of the fungus.
Chalara causes leaf loss, crown dieback and bark lesions in affected trees. It has caused widespread damage in Europe. Once a tree is infected the disease is usually fatal, either directly, or indirectly by weakening the tree. However, there is evidence that older, mature trees can survive infection and we are hoping this is the case in Chesham Bois.