Sweet chestnut blight found in London
Aserious disease of sweet chestnuts has been found in East London,
the UK’s Chief Plant Health Officer has confirmed. Action is now being taken to control the disease in line with Government plant disease contingency plans. The fungal disease, only known to affect sweet chestnut, Castanea sativa, initially causes
foliage to wilt and die. The fungus enters via pruning wounds or lesions in the bark, and the rough, sunken cankers that develop may spread, eventually killing the tree.
The disease was first identified in the UK in 2011, but other outbreaks have previously occurred, latterly in Devon earlier this year. The movement of sweet chestnut plants without permission was restricted and the import of plants and seeds without a permit is banned.
The UK has about 12,000 hectares of woodland where sweet chestnut is the dominant tree, mostly in Southern England. It’s also a common tree in parks, and found in gardens. Anyone with sweet chestnut trees in their garden, land or who works with trees should check for signs of the disease. Plants with suspected symptoms should be reported. Anyone visiting or working in woodland where sweet chestnut is present should avoid removing twigs, leaves and branches to avoid spreading the pest further.
For information visit www. forestry.gov.uk/chestnutblight or to report affected trees email planthealth.info@apha.gsi.gov. uk or tel: 01904 405138.