Page 13 - BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #06

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TREE DISEASE:

NOT IN MY

BACK YARD?

The UK is at risk of losing

millions of trees to pests
and diseases that could
seriously damage our gardens,
landscapes and impact our

wildlife populations

SIROCOCCUS BLIGHT OF CEDAR
Affects: cedar. First UK recording: 2013

Whether in your garden, lining your street
or abundant in local parks and woodland, To help you,
trees offer a range of physical and mental Observatree has
health benefits: from gentle exercise and
connecting with nature, to combatting air produced free,
and noise pollution, or simply offering you
some shade. downloadable CHALARA ASH DIEBACK
Observatree is a project that aims to toolkits including: Affects: ash. First UK recording: 2012
help protect UK trees, woods and forests 2018: Found across 45.4% of the UK
from new pests and diseases through Identification (Source: Forestry Commission)
early detection and reporting. Early
detection gives the highest chances of guides,reporting
controlling or monitoring any outbreaks. checklists,questions
Monitoring the spread of tree pests and
diseases is equally important. Knowing and answers
where something is, and when it arrives,
could highlight trees or areas of the UK DOWNLOAD YOUR
with natural resistance.
TOOLKIT TODAY AT:
YOU CAN HELP
While you are out and about, keep your OBSERVATREE.ORG.
eyes open for signs of three key pests and ORIENTAL CHESTNUT GALL WASP
diseases that are threatening some of the UK/TOOLKITS Affects: sweet chestnut. First UK
UK’s most iconic tree species. recording: 2015

Observatree is a citizen science project led by Forest Research, in collaboration with key organisations. Previously 50% funded by the EU’s LIFE+ Programme (2013-2017)