British ash trees are poised to finally make a comeback with scientists working on gene-edited saplings that are immune to ash dieback.
Dieback, a pathogen originally from Asia, has blighted British ash trees since it arrived in the UK a decade ago and estimates suggest it could kill up to 80 per cent of the UK population.
The disease causes little damage to the ash species of other continents, but the predominant British species, Fraxinus excelsior, is far more vulnerable.
I hope this is successful, I always enjoy coming across an ash tree