Hope for Britain’s ash trees as study finds resistance evolving to killer fungus

An ash sapling in Marden Park wood where the study took place (Paul Figg/RBG Kew/PA) -

British woodlands appear to be evolving resistance to the invasive fungus causing the devastating tree disease ash dieback, scientists have said.

Researchers from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Queen Mary University of London say they have discovered a new generation of young ash trees in the wild which are showing greater resistance to the fungus compared to older trees.