Ash dieback trees imported in February

TREES with ash dieback were imported into Guernsey in February – eight months before authorities acted with a ban.

The disease has swept through Europe and often leads to the death of the tree – it is estimated that there are up to 30,000 ashes in the island.

Commerce and Employment began a voluntary import ban with nurseries in mid-October, before a full ban was introduced on 30 October a day after the UK announced its ban.

One method of the disease spreading is by wind-blown spores, which the UK government has said can travel up to 30km and, in some cases, further.

'When the trees were imported to Guernsey the infection would have been present in the asexual stage of the disease, which does not produce wind-blown spores,' a Commerce and Employment spokesman said.