Chalara fraxinea is the causal agent of ash dieback, a disease affecting Fraxinus excelsior and F. angustifolia across Europe. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a rapid, DNA-based method which can be used for specific detection of plant pathogens in infected material. The combination of a rapid LAMP assay for C. fraxinea with a simple sample preparation method in a user-friendly kit format raises the potential for testing to be carried out away from conventional laboratory facilities, to expedite measure to manage this damaging disease.