The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has announced it is fully supporting government legislation banning the import and movement of ash trees in the UK.
The ruling came in response to the outbreak of Ash Dieback (Chalara fraxinea) disease which has struck ash trees in recent weeks. The ban prohibits all movements of ash plants, trees and seeds within Great Britain until further notice.

The HTA is urging members who grow and hold ash plants and seeds not to move any material until a full survey of the extent of the disease has been completed and appropriate management procedures are in place. In the meantime, the HTA is encouraging the forestry and landscape sectors to consider replacement species for ash to avoid jeopardising this year's planting schemes.

A meeting with Lord de Mauley, Defra Minister has now been requested by the association, which is seeking compensation for any financial losses that the industry incurs. The HTA first wrote to Fera in 2009 warning of the dangers of the disease and requesting a ban on imports.

HTA policy manager Gary Scroby said: "The HTA was quick to call for a voluntary moratorium on imports after we first learnt of the outbreak in August and we fully support the government import ban.

"Although we argued for a transitional licence regime to allow the movement of clean UK stock until the scale of the outbreak is known, we can understand why the authorities have taken the decision to ban all movement. That said, after first alerting the authorities of our concerns about this disease in 2009, we will pursue compensation for any financial losses that the industry incurs."