CAMPAIGNERS have called for an emergency five-point plan to prevent a tree disease from wiping out Scotland's ash population.
It comes as the UK Government announced restrictions on ash imports and movements within Britain from Monday.
The disease, known as "ash dieback", has been detected at two sites in East Anglia. Earlier this year, the disease was found at a Forestry Commission Scotland woodland at Knockmountain, near Kilmacolm, west of Glasgow.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust has called for emergency action to halt the spread of the disease, amid fears it could have a catastrophic impact on one of Scotland's most important 'keystone' tree species.
Many native Scots species are dependent on ash, including birds such as bull- finches and butterflies such as the dingy skipper.
The trust is calling for an immediate ban on ash imports, more funding for research into ash dieback and similar tree blights, and encouraging use of saplings from nurseries that source trees locally or from the UK.
Bruce Wilson, the trust's Living Landscapes policy officer, said: "We need to act quickly and decisively."
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