British ash trees may resist dieback disease, research reveals

Ground-breaking genetic analysis shows native trees may be more resistant than Danish ones to the deadly fungus that has spread across Europe

British ash trees seem to have better resistance against a deadly fungus which is devastating trees across Europe, according to research which has decoded the DNA of the species for the first time.

The ash dieback fungus has spread rapidly since it first arrived in England in 2012 and the latest data shows it is now found in more than half of the country. It has already affected 90% of trees in Denmark and threatens to all but wipe out ash trees, one of Europe's most common trees.