Natural soil treatment 'could help trees resist ash dieback'

Trees could be protected from the devastating ash dieback disease with the help of a natural soil treatment, researchers have claimed

A newly developed "enriched biochar", which combines a purified form of charcoal with fungi, seaweed and worm casts could help ash trees resist the Chalara disease, according to research by tree and shrub care company Bartlett Tree Experts.

A study by the company's research labs on 2,000 established ash trees over three years in Essex found that while a third of the established trees monitored have become infected with Chalara, none of the 20 trees which had enriched biochar applied to their roots were hit.