Busy Day for News on British Orienteering Website

[AndyC]

I dropped onto the BOF website and found that there are no less than 5 news items added today;
1) congratulations to Swansea Bay orienteering on getting Clubmark
2)Advice on Ash dieback disease (how in a multiday event am I supposed to allow 48 hours between using my O shoes, I've only got two pairs plus my road/urban shoes?)
3) Congratulations to my friend Mike Hardy on getting an "unsung hero" award
4) News about Sports England grants (which I got by another route this morning)
5) news that the chair of the Development Committee has resigned

Busy day ??

[sloaner]

Re 2: I assume Peter will have given this advice based on some science, so think we should take it seriously to stop any potential spread of the disease which could lead to far more serious consequences to orienteering if it does spread further.....

I'm surprised there has been no mention of this on here.... slower than the govt to take action!!!

[AndyC]

Please note I wasn't criticising the advice more commenting on the pressure it will put on multiday events - I for example put on wet shoes for the second day of the October Oddyssey something which I'm very sure would present a definite risk of spreading the disease.
Anyway item in the Telegraph today suggests we'll be completely banned from entering any at risk areas http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/9643287/British-public-could-be-banned-from-forests-to-save-ash-trees-from-fungus.html.

[Freefall]

Of greater concern in our areas (think 2013 and 2015) is Dothistroma Needle Blight. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-19652046

Note the comment within the article "Some of the woodland which has already been felled was home to the endangered capercaillie and it is thought other species [orienteers?] could be affected by habitat loss".

[Clive Coles]

What Peter did not mention on his BOF post is that all forest users are asked to help identify occurrances of the Ash die back disease should they come across such a tree in the forest.

Orienteers could be really useful as they tend to get off path and run through the woodlands. Doing a thorough search of established woodlands ( and hedgerows ) is a collosal task for both the Forestry authorities and private Woodland owners so let's try to help where we can.

It would be tragic if GB went the same way as Denmark who have now lost 90% of their Ash trees.

If you think you have spotted a diseased Ash tree there is now a slick app that you can use to report you observations http://ashtag.org/

Ashtag can be used from a PC once you get home ~ you do not have to carry your mobile phone around with you. Alternatively:

Suspected cases of Chalara dieback cab be reported to one of the following:
• Forest Research Tree Health Diagnostic and Advisory Service -
tel: 01420 23000; email: ddas.ah@forestry.gsi.gov.uk;
• Forestry Commission Plant Health Service - tel: 0131 314 6414; email: plant.health@forestry.gsi.gov.uk;
• Fera Plant Health & Seeds Inspectorate - tel: 01904 465625;