Be vigilant for signs of tree pests and diseases

Oak Processionary Moth is an established pest in parts of London and surrounding areas, however the rest of the country is designated as a Protected Zone (PZ). OPM caterpillars can cause damage to oak trees and can pose some risks to human and animal health. The plant health service has controls in place to limit the spread of OPM and prevent new introductions. As a grower, importer or trader, there are steps you can take to help reduce the risks. 

The paperwork 

All oak moving into and within the PZ requires a plant passport regardless of the size of the consignment, and you must retain this document for at least a year. Outside the PZ, plants passports are still required if imported trees are intended for further propagation or growing on. We advise that you inspect this paperwork thoroughly and carry out careful sourcing to encourage best practice within the supply chain and improve traceability. Working in the trade, it is important to perform visual checks of your material and to report any suspicious signs of pests or diseases to a Plant Health Inspector as soon as possible.

 If you suspect OPM, do not attempt to destroy or move infected material yourself as the nests and caterpillars can pose some risks to human health. For more on how to identify OPM, visit https://www.forestry.gov.uk/oakprocessionarymoth.

Check, check and check again

Dr Anna Brown, Head of Tree Health & Contingency Planning, Forestry Commission England, said: “Those of us involved in importing or trading plants cannot afford to lower our guard against exotic pests and diseases such as OPM. There is a lot we can do such as buying British, only buying stock from reputable, responsible suppliers and quarantining imported plants.

“Inspect, inspect and inspect again – we can’t check imported plants too often for signs of trouble. Don’t presume that because your supplier found no evidence of a pest or disease that you won’t either. You might spot something that they have missed.”

Tackling threats to plant health is not just a matter for government. By working in partnership we can help to protect the industry and our environment for years to come. 

Resources 

• To report sightings of pests and diseases, use the Forestry Commission’s Tree Alert app http://www.treealert.forestry.gov.uk/
• For more on OPM, visit https://www.forestry.gov.uk/oakprocessionarymoth.
• For guidance on importing trees and plants to England and Wales from the EU visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/importing-trees-and-plants-to-england-and-wales-from-the-eu
• To find out more about plant health Protected Zones visit https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/resources/plant-health-protected-zones/

To find out how the government will work with others to protect England’s tree population from pest and disease threats, see the Tree Health Resilience Strategy https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tree-health-resilience-strategy-2018.