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the fungus, which overwinters in foliage and leaf litter on the ground, particularly
on ash leaf stalks. BERE REGIS HISTORY SOCIETY

How do you spot Chalara Ash Die-back? Bagwood Coppice Digs
Ash dieback is easiest to spot in the summer months, July to September, before The Romano-British settlement at Bagwood Coppice north
the leaves start to naturally change colour, ready to fall off the tree in autumn. of the village on Bere Down was investigated during three
Autumn colour changes in the leaves can sometimes be easily confused with the weeks of August 1962 and a similar period in 1963. Lead
effects of Chalara ash dieback if you aren’t familiar with the effects of the disease. investigator of the digs was Mr Geoffrey S. Toms, classics
Master at Birkenhead School and son-in-law of Mr Charles Cape, the former
The first signs of an ash tree developing an infection of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus assistant of Mr William Llewellin at the Borstal Institution. The team of diggers
that you may spot are the blackening and wilting of the trees leaves and some consisted of twelve archaeology students from Oxford University and eight boys
shoots. from Portland Borstal, the latter being rotated each week. The whole team
When the ash tree becomes infected, it will shed its leaves prematurely and in camped on Bere Down in tents and three or four WVS volunteers provided meals
some ash trees the fungus can spread to its branches and trunk. When the disease each day.
spreads from the leaves further into the tree it can develop dark lesions at the In 1962 Mr Toms had made a
junction of a branch with the trunk and the inner bark of the tree can look four feet (1.2m) wide trench
brownish-grey underneath these lesions. across the 5 acre (2 hectare)
area of interest, and found
Young trees are the most susceptible to ash dieback and less likely to survive.
Older ash trees can withstand exposure to the fungus for longer but consistent remains from the 2nd
attacks, year on year, will eventually claim its life or cause it to become vulnerable Century. Aerial photographs
to the effects of other pests and diseases. were taken of the area
during the following winter so
Ash is one of Britain’s most important native, and one of our most abundant, tree that the 1963 dig could target
species. The common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) makes up around 12% of Great specific markings on the
Britain’s broadleaved woodland and grows in a large variety of soil types and ground. The oldest find was a
different climates. Roman coin of the Emperor
Trajan (98-117 A.D.) and overall revealed a farming unit that had been occupied
If you suspect that any ash trees on your property may be suffering from Chalara from about 120-360 A.D. who lived in huts of clay, wattle and daub, used Roman
ash dieback or if you have any questions relating to the disease, feel free to reach coinage, pottery and possessed brooches, bronze finger rings and used weaving
out to Treeology – one of our friendly team members will be more than happy to machines. Some of the pottery was Samian while other coins bore the heads of
help. Trajan's sister Marciana, and of the Empress Faustina. The use of Borstal boys
If you need any assistance in managing any ash trees on your grounds or have along with Oxford boys was part of the legacy left by Bere Regis resident William
any other tree related enquiries, we will also be happy to help – just give us a call Llewellin (1889-1961) and bore fruit with at least one young Portland Borstal
on 01202 910150 / 07493 745884 offender. When he returned home to Sussex he became an enthusiastic member
of his local archaeological society in late 1962.
Article Written By Treeology - Tree Surgeons
Further investigations have been made in recent years.
Further Information and Guidance on Ash DieBack can be found on the Dorset John Pitfield, Projects Secretary
Council website.
Treeology
www.dorsetforestry.co.uk
info@dorsetforestry.co.uk
01202 910150 / 07493 745884

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