Common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is a familiar tree in the Irish landscape, in forests roadsides, hedgerows and in private gardens. Ash dieback disease is now widespread throughout the country and its impact on ash trees in forests, on roadside and hedgerow ash in private gardens and in other locations is evident.
The care and management of trees in rural gardens including those adjacent to roads is the responsibility of the landowner on whose land the trees are growing. It is advisable that landowners make themselves aware of the full legal extent of their land ownership and of any obligations arising from this.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine does not offer funding for the removal of roadside trees or for private homeowners living in the countryside with ash trees in their rural gardens. The Department has published guidance on the subject of roadside trees (“A Guide for Landowners to Managing Roadside Trees”) and this can be accessed at the Department website.
In relation to any planned felling of trees, landowners should contact the Felling Section of the Department to determine whether, under the Forestry Act 2014, a felling licence is required.
