Phytophthora ramorum survey (Sudden Oak Death)

 

Technical Services Unit (TSU), through it’s national network of field stations, was contracted by the Forestry Commission to carry out a programme of woodland surveys throughout Great Britain in order to determine whether this disease was present in the wider environment.

This newly identified pathogen has been found affecting mainly Rhododendron and Viburnum plants, principally at nurseries and garden centres around the country.

It has also been found at a number of established garden sites and recently was confirmed in trees at three sites in southern England.

This is potentially a very damaging disease to trees and shrubs in Britain with large commercial and landscape consequences.

The survey carried out in 2004 consisted of dividing the country into 10km squares and selecting woodland areas of over 2 hectares. Both Forest Enterprise and private sector woodland was surveyed.

For further information about this project contact:

Dr. Janet Dutch
Technical Services Unit
Forest Research
Northern Research Station
Roslin
Midlothian
EH25 9SY

Tel: 0131 445 2176
Fax: 0131 445 5124
E-mail: janet.dutch@forestry.gsi.gov.uk