A DEADLY disease which kills ash trees could have come to Surrey.
Lorraine Kordecki, of Dovers Green Road, Reigate, believes she found a case of the dreaded Chalara fraxinea, commonly known as ash dieback, in a sapling tree in her garden.
Since the fungus was first spotted in a Norfolk nature reserve last month, the Forestry Commission, which manages and protects the country's woodland, has carried out an extensive survey.
Though the survey – carried out by the Commission in partnership with the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs – found cases in 115 sites across six counties, Surrey was not on the list, nor were any private gardens.
However, Mrs Kordecki fears the disease, which can kill the trees and first shows when the leaves turn black and curl, was present in her garden. She believes the case may have gone unregistered when she spoke to the Commission.
"The response to the news of ash dieback has been so great," she told the Mirror.
"I think people would be upset if it came to Surrey.
"I was worried about the lack of response from the Forestry Commission. I sent an e-mail with a photo of my tree but got no reply.
"I phoned and asked what to do and they said 'what does it say on the website?'
"It could just be unusual rot, but I think it was this disease."
After taking advice from a groundskeeper at a nearby playing field, Mrs Lordecki cut down and burned the three-year-old tree, in case the disease spread to others in her acre of land.
But she maintains the photos taken of the shrivelled black leaves at the top of the tree on November 6 suggest the disease has come to the county.
René Olivieri, chair of The Surrey Wildlife Trust, said: "We are concerned about the spread of this disease.
"Ash trees, as hedgerow and field trees, are an important feature in our landscape and also a key component of ecologically unique woodlands that support rare species."
The Forestry Commission had not responded before the Mirror went to press.
