12/05/25 - Ash dieback, viticulture and spring grass growth

The tree disease ash dieback has been less devastating than initially feared. 2500 trees that show signs of resistance to ash dieback have been planted at a tree archive site in Scotland. It's part of ongoing Government research that suggests there are more tolerant trees than at first expected, and those left in the wild are regenerating naturally.

We visit a vineyard in Norfolk at a crucial time of year for viticulture. As the vines come into flower, growers are hoping for no late frosts, which could damage their prospects for a good crop of grapes.

And spring is usually a time of rapid grass growth, but this year's dry weather has left some farmers with less of it than they’d like. For livestock farmers grass is a critically important crop, providing fresh feed in the fields through spring and summer and a relatively low-cost source of fodder for the winter.

Presented by Caz Graham
Produced by Heather Simons