Blog - Pests & Diseases

Our changing flora

Our changing flora

by Chris, 9 June, 2010, 7 comments

Our changing flora All of our present plants have arrived in the U.K. since the end of the last Ice Age, about ten to twelve thousand years ago. Plants and animals moved north as the sheets of ice gradually retreated; they were able to do this as ‘we’ were still joined directly to parts of Europe -by a great plain with meandering rivers, so that present-day East Anglia was linked to parts of The Netherlands and North Germany. Read more...

Red Band Needle Blight

Red Band Needle Blight

by Angus, 3 June, 2010, 2 comments

This is an interesting and dramatic condition that affects various pines, especially Corsican Pine. Thetford Forest in East Anglia has been severely affected by it. Of the 25,000 hectares of that forest, about 13,000 ha are Corsican Pine. Read more...

International Day for Biological Diversity – 22nd May 2010

International Day for Biological Diversity – 22nd May 2010

by Chris, 22 May, 2010, 1 comments

The United Nations declared that today, May 22nd, is The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB). The aim of the day is to help increase the understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. Sadly, today’s papers are scarcely packed with banner headlines on biodiversity issues. Read more...

Greenfinches

Greenfinches

by Chris, 22 May, 2010, 0 comments

Greenfinches, parasites, heat islands and the BTO nesting survey. Greenfinches are being killed by a protozoan parasite – Trichomonas. The parasite causes swelling of the throat by infecting the crop and gullet, so the the birds cannot eat. It has been suggested that as many as 500,000 greenfinches have been killed by this parasite. Read more...

Acute Oak Decline

Acute Oak Decline

by Angus, 2 May, 2010, 3 comments

Acute Oak Decline (AOD) is disease that affects oaks. It is a serious concern for all owners of oak woodlands. At a conference organised by the RFS this April, Sandra Denman, a Forestry Commission pathologist and research scientist, set out the result of her researches into this condition which can ultimately lead to the death of oaks. She explained that Acute Oak Decline is a complex condition which is a progressive disease of both pedunculate and sessile oaks. Read more...

Grey Squirrel Control - a video presentation with Julian Evans

Grey Squirrel Control – a video presentation with Julian Evans

by catherine, 19 March, 2010, 6 comments

Following on from his video on grey squirrel damage, Professor Julian Evans discusses ways of controlling them. Read more...

Horse Chestnut disease

Horse Chestnut disease

by Chris, 4 December, 2009, 9 comments

The Woodlands Blog has previously reported on the threats facing the Horse Chestnut tree in the UK, specifically: Read more...

Honey Fungus

by Chris, 14 November, 2008, 1 comments

The honey fungus (Armillaria) is one of the most widespread pathogens, and is found across the globe. There are a number of related species of Armillaria that parasitise the roots and trunks of a wide variety of trees; they can also feed saprophytically on the dead remains of the trees. Such dead stumps and infected tissues may act as a base for further infection. In forests and woodlands, it has been suggested that the presence of other fungi diminish or restrain the pathogenicity (killing power) of the honey fungus, though in gardens it may spread unchecked from one tree or shrub to another. Read more...

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