Support for affected owners The Forestry Commission will consider all requests to make the content of publications available in alternative formats. Countryside Stewardship grants can offer help with the costs of: Please send any such requests to restocking (replanting) after felling Email: [email protected] to control Ramorum disease; and Tel: 0300 067 5046 removing immature trees which Ramorum cannot be felled economically, but which might spread the disease. disease

Owners who plan to apply for a grant must speak to a Forestry Commission woodland officer before of larch starting work. Contact details are available at forestry.gov.uk/england forestry.gov.uk/england-areas Advice and support for woodland owners and managers Owners in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should contact Forestry Commission Scotland, Natural Resources Wales or the Northern Ireland Forest Service respectively.

Reporting new cases Forestry Commission woodlands have been certified in accordance with the Report suspected symptoms rules of the Forest FSC® C011771 Stewardship Council. promptly with Tree Alert. forestry.gov.uk/treealert Printed on FSC Published by Forestry Commission England, certified paper. 620 Bristol Business Park, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1EJ Please recycle 0300 067 4000 National enquiries: 0300 067 4321 after use. If you are unable to use Tree Alert, report to [email protected] forestry.gov.uk/england Email: [email protected] © Crown Copyright 2015 Tel: 0300 067 4000 FCPHPr/2/Sept 2015/13,500/Plus One Creative/Creative Concern/Brownsforestry.gov.uk CTP forestry.gov.uk/pramorum Ramorum disease Symptoms What to do about it Look for: Please report any • partial flushing of suspicious symptoms trees in the spring; immediately. (See back Ramorum disease What it does • unexplained dieback for reporting details). This and gingering foliage will enable confirmation Spores enter larch trees is caused by in the canopy (see or otherwise of the through the bark and the fungus-like cover picture); disease by experts, who needles, girdling branches • ginger foliage later can also advise on the pathogen and eventually the stem, turning brown; required course of action. causing foliage to turn Phytophthora • bark cankers on ginger, then brown, before ramorum. branches or the main dying. As autumn nears, stem, which are often It can infect and kill many foliage can wilt and turn encrusted with resin; and tree species widely grown grey or black as spores are • shoot tips wilting and in England, particularly produced on the needles. turning black or grey, Logs from infected larch larch, sweet chestnut Infected larch trees usually becoming visible trees may only be moved and beech. It also kills have resinous patches on to a processing mill by numerous ornamental the trunk and branches. towards autumn. a licensed haulier. shrub species, including They often die quickly, and Rhododendron ponticum, symptoms can develop Nb: It is often difficult to What happens next Using the and ecologically important rapidly throughout a stand of spot symptoms in tall You will be contacted by felled trees trees, and they might have plants such as bilberry. trees over a single season. a Forestry Commission Timber from affected trees other causes, so expert surveyor to arrange a site can be utilised. However, advice can be needed. Why it matters assessment. This usually the pathogen can still be Spores from infected mature involves felling a sample active in the bark, so the larch trees can be spread Wilt and dieback of fresh tree or trees to investigate timber may only be moved needle growth symptomatic and take samples to confirm to nearby trees and plants, of sporulating material. and processed under and be carried much further whether they are infected. a Forestry Commission on moist air currents. There If infection is apparent, licence. This helps to is also a high risk of spread a woodland officer will ensure that biosecurity to plants in other habitats, visit to explain the action procedures are followed including susceptible needed, which is most to minimise the risk of heathland species such likely to involve felling the spreading the disease. as bilberry. This is cause infected trees along with for concern economically, surrounding susceptible Nb: Firewood from a Branches and stems are often and from a landscape and trees which are also likely P. ramorum-affected site encrusted with dried, whitish resin biodiversity perspective. to be infected. This is a may only be supplied to legal requirement and will retailers and end users prevent or limit spread of by a Forestry Commission- the disease. The woodland authorised processor. officer will also explain It must be accompanied any support available. by information providing biosecurity advice.

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