The Ash grows wild in Britain and Europe, in woods and hedges where soils are moist and rich. Young trees and branches have smooth pale grey bark, which becomes ridged with age. The twigs are easily recognised with their distinctive black buds. At the time of writing, March 2015, planting of Ash trees is not allowed due to the appearance of Ash Dieback in the UK. This is caused by a fungus, Chalara Fraxinea, which causes leaf loss, lesions on the bark and dieback of the crown of the tree.