It is game over for conkers? (From Worcester News)

It is game over for conkers?

10:15am Monday 16th August 2010 in

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THE guardians of Worcestershire’s woods and parkland are on high alert because four lethal diseases are poised to devastate British trees in a blight that could dramatically change our landscape forever.

Horse chestnuts, oaks, pines, larches, sweet chestnuts and Douglas fir are all at risk as researchers desperately seek to find control measures.

Mike Seville, forestry and woodland adviser for the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), said: “In 35 years of working with timber I cannot remember a time when our trees were under so great a threat.

“At least with Dutch elm disease only one species was affected, but now we have acute oak decline in oaks, red band needle blight on Corsican pine and Scots pine and leaf miner on horse chestnuts.

“Coming up from the south west is phytophthora ramorum, the rather confusingly named ‘sudden oak death’ which is killing larch and affecting Douglas fir and sweet chestnut.

“What is really worrying is the rapid spread of disease. The red band needle blight, in particular, is running in a swathe through Suffolk and Norfolk and up into the Midlands. Research has been underfunded for years so that now when we are facing this potential disaster, we simply do not have the vital knowledge we need to enable us to tackle such a variety of pests and diseases.

Even if we had the chemicals, which we don’t, treating a tree – let alone a forest – is out of the question.

“It is not overstating the case to say that in a very short time we could lose some of our much loved woodlands and commercial forests.

With them will go the beauty of our landscapes, a vast range of wildlife habitats, a timber resource and vital carbon sequestration at a time of climate change.

“Oak is not only the iconic tree of England, it is a dominating feature of the English landscape and underpins the ecology of most of our native woodlands.

“The very thought of its wholesale loss is almost too awful to contemplate.”

The CLA is urging the Government to increase the funding for research into these diseases and pests.

Mr Seville said: “We recognise that all budgets are under pressure and that we have to be realistic but failure to address the threats posed by these diseases could be catastrophic.”

Donna Tavernor, CLA West Midlands regional adviser, said: “So far there have been no reported cases in the region but we are asking our members to remain vigilant and report any suspected presence of the disease on trees or in woodlands to the Forestry Commission immediately.”

The rural watchdog is also advising owners, contractors and workers to maintain strict hygiene when working with trees and to report any suspicious outbreak to the Forestry Commission.