I live in near Thrapston in East Northamptonshire in the countryside. Farming is a mixture of arable and cattle. There are old gravel pits now used as sailing and fishing lakes and the river nene flows through the countryside.
I have been phoning and writing to people since last summer about the trees and hedges. The forestry commission looked at photos last autumn and said
Without being able to examine the trees and the site, I cannot be specific on what may be causing the decline but, from your photos, clearly some trees are in obvious decline. It may be something as simple as waterlogging, especially for the conifers, but it would need a more detailed investigation. I am copying this reply to the Northamptonshire Wildlife email address in one of your emails and they may wish to arrange an investigation. I am attaching details of the service we provide for their information.
Sadly Northamptonshire Wildlife wouldn't agree to me meeting them and showing them the area(s) of concern and said all they could see was a few mature willows splitting. Although I am not a tree expert, I know that the problem is not confined to willows; Many species of tree are affected. The problem is very widespread now in patches along the nene and in Titchmarsh and Fermyn Woods and as far north as Kingscliffe.
I have tried to engage Look East and the local press and have spoken to my MP who said he would contact DEFRA for me but I still have not had a response. When I contacted DEFRA myself at the beginning of January, they told me
"Thank you for the attached information which I have passed to one of our Plant Health Inspectors, the UK Phytophthora team and the Forestry Commission. I will contact you again as soon I receive their responses."
I have heard nothing since.
I have hundreds of photos. I have attached a couple and will try to download a couple more later today when I have time as these were taken in the autumn and things are much worse now. I have spent so many hours trying to get someone to look into this problem and don't know where to go next...
