Fireblight Outbreak: Riverston Abbey, Ashtown, Dublin 7
Fireblight is a highly contagious and severe plant disease caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora. Fireblight has the capacity to impact upon the agriculture and nursery sectors and Ireland is required under EU law to act when an outbreak is detected. The disease chiefly affects members of the Rosaceae (Rose Family) including Apple tree, Pear trees and related ornamentals including Cotoneaster, Sorbus, Crataegus (hawthorn), Photinia and Pyracantha and can kill susceptible varieties within one growing season.
Following the rapid death of 28 Whitebeams (Sorbus aria) in Abbey Drive, Dublin 7, Dublin City Parks, Biodiversity and Landscape Services on the 21/07/2022 asked the Horticulture and Plants Health Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to the take samples of infected trees in order to check for fireblight.
On the 22/08/2022, The Horticulture and Plants Health Division informed DCC Park Services of the positive Fireblight finding at 92 Navan Rd, Abbey Dr, Riverston Abbey, Ashtown, Dublin 7. A destruction notice was also issued which consists of the planned removal of all host species in Riverston Abbey, Ashtown, Dublin 7 (Plant Health Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 and S.I. No. 459/2020 - European Union (Plant Health) Regulations 2020). This instruction from the department of Agriculture includes public spaces and private gardens. DCC Parks Services will engage with the department of Agriculture when the department knows the scale of the work required in private gardens.
Following a meeting with a representative from The Horticulture and Plants Health Division, the following plan was devised by DCC Parks Services,
I Street Tree removal Plan
The first action consisted of the removal of 28 dead trees. Another inspection on the 29/08, showed that a further 14 trees were dead and several trees showed signs of the disease. It is also likely that rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) are showing signs of the disease (browning of the leaves)
Street trees will be removed in batches of 20 -25, beginning with those located nearest to the host tree (92 Abbey Drive). In total, 113 trees will have to be removed in the coming weeks (see appendix II for details)
|
Location |
Quantity of trees to be removed |
|---|---|
|
Abbey Drive |
75 |
|
Chancel Mews |
13 |
|
Chapel Crescent |
11 |
|
Church Walk |
1 |
|
Cloister Court |
2 |
|
Rectory Green |
2 |
|
Spire View |
9 |
Trees are to be felled by a qualified tree surgeon company in agreement with the Horticulture and Plants Health Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Tools will be disinfected after work to avoid any further contamination. All tree parts will be transported in sealed trucks to a Bord Na Mona site to be burnt.
Exact dates of the work depend on the contractor availability but will be provided to residents and representatives.
Two Malus domestica (Apple tree) and one small Pyrus communis (Pear tree) planted by residents in Chapel Crescent open space will also have to be removed and it is proposed to replace them with Mulberry trees (Morus alba) and Plum trees (Prunus domestica)
II Street Tree planting
Tree planting will begin this winter and will continue for three to five years. A series of 36 locations have been identified were planting will be carried out this year (see appendix I for details). This first planting phase concerns long grass verges where the distance between trees allows replanting after felling. Some planting will also occur on the edges of open space, taking care that the centre of the open space is kept tree free. In relation to other smaller grass verges, it is advisable to wait three years to replant trees as this will allow sufficient time for the roots of the previous trees to rot away. It may be possible to accelerate the process by using stump grinder depending on above and below ground services locations. Park Services will propose a full tree-planting scheme. This will be an occasion to increase the variety of tree species planted and therefore avoid future spread of disease.
III Shrubbery removal in open spaces
All shrubs susceptible to fireblight will also have to be removed. At the time of the site visit, none of these shrubs showed sign of fireblight.
Susceptible shrub species are Cotoneasters, Pyracantha and Photinia. Unfortunately these species were identified in all the open spaces shrubberies and therefore will also have to be removed. This work will be carried out when all host street trees have been removed.
IV Shrubbery planting
All shrubberies will be replaced by fireblight resistant plants. The selection of species will be carried out after the removal of host plants.
Appendices:
Appendix 1 Planting locations: winter 2022/2023
|
I.D |
ADDRESS |
ADDRESS |
ADDRESS |
SITE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
07PH |
|
6 8 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 201-250cm wide |
|
07R5 |
|
37 39 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07R7 |
|
47 49 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07RA |
OPPOSITE |
28 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07S8 |
OPPOSITE |
32 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07SB |
OPPOSITE |
36 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Open Space |
|
07SG |
OPPOSITE |
44 46 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07SH |
OPPOSITE |
42 44 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07SN |
OPPOSITE |
56 58 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07SQ |
OPPOSITE |
58 60 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07SU |
OPPOSITE |
64 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07SW |
OPPOSITE |
66 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07SY |
OPPOSITE |
68 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07T0 |
OPPOSITE |
70 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07T2 |
OPPOSITE |
72 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07T4 |
OPPOSITE |
74 76 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07T7 |
OPPOSITE |
80 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07T9 |
OPPOSITE |
82 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07TC |
OPPOSITE |
84 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07TD |
OPPOSITE |
86 88 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07TE |
OPPOSITE |
88 90 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07TW |
OPPOSITE |
96 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07TZ |
OPPOSITE |
98 100 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07US |
|
13 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07V0 |
OPPOSITE |
156 158 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07V3 |
OPPOSITE |
152 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07V4 |
OPPOSITE |
148 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07V8 |
OPPOSITE |
144 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07U7 |
OPPOSITE |
31 33 |
CHANCEL MEWS |
Open Space |
|
07U8 |
OPPOSITE |
29 |
CHANCEL MEWS |
Open Space |
|
07UC |
|
9 11 |
CHANCEL MEWS |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07QZ |
OPPOSITE |
27 29 |
CHURCH WALK |
Open Space |
|
07R0 |
OPPOSITE |
25 |
CHURCH WALK |
Open Space |
|
07QY |
OPPOSITE |
31 |
CHURCH WALK |
Open Space |
|
07SJ |
OPPOSITE |
6 |
RECTORY GREEN |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
|
07TR |
OPPOSITE |
6 8 |
SPIRE VIEW |
Grass verge 151-200cm wide |
Appendix II: trees to be felled
|
ID |
Proximity |
Building Number |
Street |
Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
07PF |
2 4 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07PF |
2 4 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07PK |
18 20 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07PL |
22 24 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07PM |
26 28 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07PN |
28 30 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07PP |
30 32 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07PQ |
34 36 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07PR |
38 40 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07PT |
50 53 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07PU |
58 60 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07PV |
62 64 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07PW |
66 68 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07PX |
72 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07PY |
74 76 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07PZ |
78 80 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07Q0 |
|
82 84 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
07Q1 |
92 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07Q2 |
92 94 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07Q3 |
96 98 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus intermedia |
|
|
07Q5 |
106 108 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07Q6 |
110 112 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07Q9 |
122 124 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07QA |
126 128 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07QD |
146 148 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07QE |
150 152 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07QF |
154 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07QG |
158 160 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07QH |
170 172 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07QJ |
174 176 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07QK |
178 180 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07QL |
182 184 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07QM |
186 188 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07QN |
190 192 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07QP |
194 196 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07QQ |
198 200 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07QT |
210 212 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07QU |
214 216 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07R2 |
102 104 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Pyrus calleryana 'Chanticleer' |
|
|
07R6 |
41 43 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07R8 |
OPPOSITE |
26 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
07R9 |
OPPOSITE |
28 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
07S7 |
OPPOSITE |
34 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
07SA |
OPPOSITE |
40 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
07SD |
OPPOSITE |
42 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
07SE |
OPPOSITE |
44 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
07SF |
OPPOSITE |
46 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
07SM |
OPPOSITE |
54 56 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
07SP |
OPPOSITE |
58 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
07SS |
OPPOSITE |
60 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
07ST |
OPPOSITE |
62 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
07SV |
OPPOSITE |
64 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
07SX |
OPPOSITE |
66 68 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
07TA |
OPPOSITE |
82 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
07TF |
OPPOSITE |
88 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
07TG |
OPPOSITE |
90 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
07TT |
OPPOSITE |
94 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
07TU |
OPPOSITE |
94 96 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
07TV |
OPPOSITE |
96 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
07TX |
OPPOSITE |
96 98 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
07U0 |
OPPOSITE |
100 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
07U3 |
Open Space |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Malus Orn. Crab |
|
|
07U4 |
Open Space |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Malus Orn. Crab |
|
|
07U5 |
Open Space |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Dying Acer platanoides |
|
|
07UM |
29 31 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07UN |
25 27 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07UP |
23 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07UQ |
21 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07UR |
17 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07UU |
9 11 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07UV |
5 7 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07UW |
1 3 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07UX |
1 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
|
07V5 |
OPPOSITE |
150 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
07V6 |
OPPOSITE |
144 146 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
07V7 |
OPPOSITE |
140 142 |
ABBEY DRIVE |
Sorbus aria |
|
07U2 |
29 |
CHANCEL MEWS |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07U6 |
25 27 |
CHANCEL MEWS |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07U9 |
23 |
CHANCEL MEWS |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07UA |
17 19 |
CHANCEL MEWS |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07UB |
13 |
CHANCEL MEWS |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07UD |
5 7 |
CHANCEL MEWS |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07UE |
1 3 |
CHANCEL MEWS |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07UF |
2 4 |
CHANCEL MEWS |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07UG |
6 8 |
CHANCEL MEWS |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07UH |
14 16 |
CHANCEL MEWS |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07UJ |
18 20 |
CHANCEL MEWS |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07UK |
22 24 |
CHANCEL MEWS |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07UL |
OPPOSITE |
21 |
CHANCEL MEWS |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
07RB |
1 |
CHAPEL CRESCENT |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07RC |
7 9 |
CHAPEL CRESCENT |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07RD |
11 13 |
CHAPEL CRESCENT |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07RE |
13 15 |
CHAPEL CRESCENT |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07RF |
17 19 |
CHAPEL CRESCENT |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07RG |
21 23 |
CHAPEL CRESCENT |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07RH |
23 |
CHAPEL CRESCENT |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07RJ |
Open Space |
CHAPEL CRESCENT |
Malus sp |
|
|
07RK |
Open space |
CHAPEL CRESCENT |
Malus sp |
|
|
07RL |
Open space |
CHAPEL CRESCENT |
Pyrus communis |
|
|
07S5 |
14 16 |
CHAPEL CRESCENT |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07QV |
34 35 |
CHURCH WALK |
Acer platanoides |
|
|
07S3 |
1 3 |
CLOISTER COURT |
Malus Orn. Crab |
|
|
07S4 |
13 15 |
CLOISTER COURT |
Pyrus calleryana 'Chanticleer' |
|
|
07SK |
OPPOSITE |
8 |
RECTORY GREEN |
Sorbus aria |
|
07SL |
OPPOSITE |
10 |
RECTORY GREEN |
Sorbus aria |
|
07TH |
SPIRE VIEW |
Sorbus aucuparia |
||
|
07TJ |
5 7 |
SPIRE VIEW |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07TK |
9 11 |
SPIRE VIEW |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07TL |
13 |
SPIRE VIEW |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07TM |
17 19 |
SPIRE VIEW |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07TN |
18 20 |
SPIRE VIEW |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07TP |
14 16 |
SPIRE VIEW |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07TQ |
12 |
SPIRE VIEW |
Sorbus aucuparia |
|
|
07TS |
2 4 |
SPIRE VIEW |
Sorbus aucuparia |