The Forestry Commission and the Food and Environment Research Agency are working to eradicate outbreaks of a serious new disease affecting sweet chestnut trees in southern and central England.
Chestnut blight, caused by the fungus Cryphonectria parasitica, is currently affecting trees planted for nut production, but Dr John Morgan, head of the Forestry Commission’s Plant Health Service, said the outbreak represents “a serious threat” to sweet chestnut woodlands.
“We are taking steps to eradicate it before it spreads into woodland trees or other plantations,” he said.
There are an estimated 12,000ha of woodland in Britain – mostly in the south – in which sweet chestnut is the predominant tree species.
Other species that can be infected include oak and maple, although the fungus currently appears to cause only minor, superficial damage to these species. In sweet chestnut it is usually fatal.
