Ringforts and Hedges: Not Enough Protection.

Just Forests makes formal complaint to Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the National Monuments Service

17th July 2013

On 3rd July 2013, Just Forests took pictures of the uprooting of thousands of ash trees in Rathcobican, Rhode, Co Offaly. The reason for the removal of the ash trees was due to the 'ash dieback' disease.

Charlara Ash dieback is a serious disease of ash trees caused by the fungal pathogen Chalara fraxinea (Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus). It has spread rapidly across much of Europe. The disease can affect ash trees of any age and in any setting. The disease can be fatal, particularly among younger trees. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has confirmed a number of findings of the disease (Chalara fraxinea) in Ireland.

The bresting of hedges in the same field that day  (during the nesting season) was stopped by NPWS personell.

On 16th July 2013: This morning a digger removed hedges adjacent to the Rathcobican ring fort. The digger also disturbed the ringfort itself. Just Forests believes the activities (hedge removal & ringfort interference) are contrary to wildlife and monument protection at Rathcobican, Rhode, Co Offaly and will in no way "control" the Charlara disease.
 

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Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Ireland's National Parks and Wildlife Service

Ireland's National Monuments Service