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Phytophthora ramorum in South West England
The Forestry Commission is investigating a recent outbreak of Phytophthora ramorum on Japanese Larch trees in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. This is the first time that stem lesions caused by P. ramorum have been found on conifer species. Many of the infected trees are not growing in proximity to rhododendron (known to be a host of P. ramorum) which raises the question of how they have become infected. Symptoms have also been found on Western Hemlock and a selection of broadleaf species (beech, birch, and some oaks) growing in the same area.
The Plant Health Service is at the Forestry Commission's office in Edinburgh, where the Head of Plant Health and Operations Manager are based. There are two regional officers who support Plant Health Inspectors over the whole of Great Britain. Their regions are North, (Scotland, North England as far south as the counties of Cheshire, Greater Manchester, North Yorkshire excluding Humber ports and North Wales) and South (all counties of England south of those mentioned and South Wales) . We keep our clients informed of the rules and other significant items of interest by publishing regular Plant Health Newsletters. We aim to publish these at six-monthly intervals. We also publish a range of advisory leaflets and posters, which can be ordered, usually free of charge, from the Plant Health Service at the Forestry Commission Edinburgh Office.
