Promoting environmentally acceptable measures of preventing and controlling damage to Britain's trees from pests and diseases.
A major focus of our research is improving the effectiveness of the management of both native and newly established exotic problem species. Our approach is to understand the nature and reasons for the observed problems and to apply this knowledge to sustainable management of the organisms concerned.
Other key research forms an important line of defence in monitoring any changes in the health of our trees as well as providing advice on common tree disorders and how to manage them.
About this research, its background and objectives, and underlying Forestry Commission policy
Research
- Alien invasive species and international trade
- Collaborative frameworks in land management: a case-study of wild deer in Britain
- Condition survey of non-woodland amenity trees
- Dieback of birch
- Drought stress in Sitka spruce in eastern Scotland and its association with a species of Phomopsis
- Impact of insects on tree growth
- Impact of pests and pathogens under changing management
- Impact of Phytophthora diseases on trees
- Impacts of large herbivores on woodlands
- Integrated forest management (IFM) of Hylobius abietis
- Mammal damage to trees and woodland
- Management of grey squirrels
- Non-chemical protection against conifer root and butt rot
- Plant health risk and monitoring evaluation (PHRAME)
- Red band needle blight
- Reducing the impact of non-native or invasive vertebrates to forestry
- Using molecular technology to characterise the biology of Pseudomonas syringae pv. aesculi, causing bleeding canker of horse chestnut
Research programmes are led from the Centre for Forestry and Climate Change.
Specific tree and woodland problems
* indicates a tree pest and disease alert or advisory note.
Diseases
- Acute oak decline
- Bleeding canker of Horse chestnut
- Conifer root and butt rot - Heterobasidion annosum
- Dutch elm disease in Britain
- Oak decline / oak dieback
- Phytophthora disease of alder
- Phytophthora kernoviae (beech tree trunks, leaves of rhododendrons, pieris and magnolias)
- Phytophthora ramorum (Sudden oak death)* (PDF-184K)
- Phytophthora ramorum
- Red band needle blight
Insects
- Asian longhorn beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis)* (PDF-1721K)
- Buprestid beetles (Agrilus pannonicus)
- Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis)* (PDF-4140K)
- Great spruce bark beetle (Dendroctonus micans)
- Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar)* (PDF-573K)
- Horse chestnut leaf miner (Cameraria ohridella)
- Oak leaf roller moth (Tortrix viridana)
- Oak pinhole borer (Platypus cylindrus)
- Oak processionary moth (Thaumetopoea processionea)
- Pine-tree lappet moth (Dendrolimus pini)* (PDF-595K)
- Western conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis)* (PDF-235K)
- Winter moth (Operophtera brumata)
Mammals
- Reducing the impact of non-native or invasive vertebrates to forestry
- Assessment methods for livestock overgrazing in upland woodlands
- Controlling grey squirrel damage to woodlands
- Preventing mammal damage to trees and woodland
- Recognising types of mammal damage to trees and woodland
- Researching management of feral wild boar
- Researching management of the edible dormouse (Glis glis)
Research programmes are led from the Centre for Human and Ecological Sciences
Other
Forthcoming conferences and events
- APF 2010 – Forestry Commission seminar series
- Forest Health Day Scotland - Argyle
- Forest Health Day Scotland - Inverness-shire
- Forest Health Day Scotland - Peebles
Publications
Publications about protecting trees
Tree pest and disease alerts and advisory notes
Bulletins and handbills showing signs and symptoms of tree pests and diseases and advice on what to do if you suspect the pest or disease is present:
- Asian longhorn beetle (PDF-1721K)
- Dutch elm disease diagnosis (PDF-838K)
- Emerald ash borer (PDF-4140K)
- Gypsy moth (PDF-573K)
- Horse chestnut leafminer (PDF-179K)
- Oak pinhole borer (PDF-264K)
- Oak processionary moth (PDF-412K)
- Phytophthora ramorum (Sudden oak death) (PDF-184K)
- Pine-tree lappet moth (PDF-595K)
- Problems on plane trees (PDF-437K)
- Western conifer seed bug (PDF-235K)
Related products and services
- Chemicals Regulation Directorate efficacy testing - Quality assured field trials of new and existing pesticides under strictly controlled environmental conditions
- Hylobius Management Support System - Helps predict and reduce damage and costs due to large pine weevil
- PG Suspension - Biological control agent for Heterobasidion annosum
- TimberTherm™ - Software tool to optimise heat treatment of timber
- Tree Health Diagnostic and Advisory Service
Contact
For further information contact:
Pathogens and abiotic disorders
Dr Joan Webber
Centre for Forestry and Climate Change
Forest Research
Alice Holt Lodge
Farnham
Surrey GU10 4LH
Tel: +44 (0) 1420 22255
Fax: +44 (0) 1420 23653
Email: joan.webber@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
Invertebrate pests
Dr Hugh Evans
Forest Research
Forestry Commission Wales National Office
Welsh Assembly Government
Rhodfa Padarn
Llanbadarn Fawr
Aberystwyth
Ceredigion
SY23 3UR
Tel: +44 (0)300 068 0079
Fax: +44 (0)300 068 030
Email: hugh.evans@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
Mammalian and rodent pests
Dr Chris Quine
Centre for Human and Ecological Sciences
Forest Research
Northern Research Station
Roslin
Midlothian
EH29 9SY
Tel: +44 (0) 131 4452176
Fax: +44 (0) 131 4455124
Email: chris.quine@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
Other research themes
Science & technical disciplines
Research
EU and OECD research
