sudden oak death

[blackdown]

We are concerned that many of the beech trees on the Devon/Somerset boarder might have caught sudden oak death. Does anyone know exactly what the symptoms are? They are covered in moss, when they fall it is noticable the trunk centres are black in colour and rotted out and many of the braches are dying back.

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by blackdown

We are concerned that many of the beech trees on the Devon/Somerset boarder might have caught sudden oak death. Does anyone know exactly what the symptoms are? They are covered in moss, when they fall it is noticable the trunk centres are black in colour and rotted out and many of the braches are dying back.

This link may be of some use http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/EPAversion3.pdf/$FILE/EPAversion3.pdf

[blackdown]

Thanks but we have tried contacting the forestry and they do not seem to want to address the issue. Blackdown.

[fbcpmike]

Originally Posted by blackdown

.......sudden oak death. Does anyone know exactly what the symptoms are? ..........

Try the following links for Sudden Oak Death -

DEFRA
Royal horticultural Society
Forestry Commission
California Oak Mortality Task Force.

[blackdown]

thank you but this is not defras area of expertise...

[Adam Cheeseman]

You could try contacting the wardens of Mount Edgcumbe Country Park at Cremyll, Torpoint, Devon. They had quite a serious outbreak of it there a couple of years back.

Cheers,

Adam

[blackdown]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

You could try contacting the wardens of Mount Edgcumbe Country Park at Cremyll, Torpoint, Devon. They had quite a serious outbreak of it there a couple of years back.

Cheers,

Adam

Thanks Adam, will contact them. Regards Blackdown

[Jacky]

I've done some volunteering at Mount Edgcumbe and I know this is still an issue there. From what I have been told the disease carriers are rhodedendrons - get rid of your rhodies and hopefully this will lessen the impact of the sudden oak death.

[ceterach]

Originally Posted by blackdown

We are concerned that many of the beech trees on the Devon/Somerset boarder might have caught sudden oak death. Does anyone know exactly what the symptoms are? They are covered in moss, when they fall it is noticable the trunk centres are black in colour and rotted out and many of the braches are dying back.

I am interested in why you specifically fear sudden oak death. Beeches are having a very tough time at present. Here on the North Downs large old trees are losing branches and trunks splitting, all show signs of fungal infections. The views I hear generally suggest this is a result of the dry summers causing the trees to be heavily stressed (they are very shallow-rooted) and so become susceptible to various fungi with which they normally share a commensal/symbiotic relationship.

[blackdown]

The Defra site points out that along with the oaks the beeches also suffer sudden oak death...we think in this area that the disease might be related to the adjacent conifir plantations which have completely altered the habitat. These conifir plantations might have caused the stress rather than the hot summers.