OWNERS and managers of woodland are to be given grants to help them destroy diseased ash trees, and replace them where appropriate.

It is part of a strategy to tackle the spread of Chalara ash dieback in Scotland, which threatens the future of the species in Britain.

The grants from Forestry Commission Scotland will help meet the costs of removal and destruction of infected, recently planted ash trees in what has been designated the "sheltered" area in the north-west and the "buffer" zone which runs diagonally across Scotland from the Moray Firth to the Clyde.

The grant support rates are £550 and £1000 net per hectare, depending on the area and treatment needed.

Some recently planted ash trees can be pulled out and burned, but larger trees need to be cut and burned, with chemical treatment applied to their stumps to prevent re-growth. Alternative trees will be planted where the gaps left by the ash trees will prevent successful woodland establishment.

Paul Whitehouse, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, said: "Landowners and forest managers acknowledge the threat from Chalara ash dieback and are acutely aware of the challenges that mitigating its impact presents.

"But they also recognise Scotland has an opportunity to maintain a "sheltered area" in the north-west.

"This is where some of Scotland's highest nature conservation value ash woodlands are to be found – and it is where we have the greatest chance of delaying the arrival of this disease in the wider environment."

Chalara has been found at 111 sites in Scotland so far.