Woodland managers, landowners and the forestry industry are
encouraged to remain vigilant as the Forestry Commission today
(Wednesday 5 June) announces an expansion of the current Ips
typographus demarcated area following findings of the tree pest,
also known as the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle, on Norway
spruce in East Anglia.
The eight-toothed spruce bark beetle is a serious pest of spruce
trees in Europe and was first identified in the UK in Kent in
2018. It prefers stressed or dying trees but under the right
conditions it can attack healthy trees and has the potential to
cause significant damage to Great Britain's forestry and timber
industries.
From Wednesday 12 June 2024 requirements will come into
force across an extended, larger demarcated area (DMA) in the
South East of England and East Anglia to prevent potential spread
of the pest, in line with the eradication action taken by the
Forestry Commission to manage outbreaks.
The existing Demarcated area, last extended in 2022, covers parts
of Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey,
City of London, Greater London, West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent,
Essex and Hampshire. After findings of Ips typographus were
reported to Forestry Commission, the extended zone will now cover
parts of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, and
Suffolk.
Within these areas, the felling and movement of all spruce
material, including trees and wood with bark, isolated bark, and
wood chip with bark, is prohibited within the demarcated area
unless authorised by the Forestry Commission. Woodland managers
must provide written notification to the Forestry Commission if
they intend to fell or kill any trees of the genus Picea A. Dietr
over three metres in height. Click here for full
guidance of the requirements.
Additionally, processing of spruce material which has originated
in the demarcated area may only be undertaken at premises
authorised by the Forestry Commission to receive this material
and there is also a prohibition of susceptible material being
left in situ, unless authorised in writing by a plant health
inspector.
The Forestry Commission continues to robustly manage this pest
and prevent its establishment within Great Britain. Landowners,
managers and timber processors should remain vigilant for Ips
typographus and are encouraged to continue to check the health of
spruce trees on their land especially as temperatures rise and we
enter the flight season. Any suspected findings of the
beetle can be reported using the online portal TreeAlert.
Forestry Commission spokesperson Andrea Deol
said:
“Following a report of Ips typographus to the Forestry Commission
in East Anglia, we conducted a swift investigation including
rapid eradication measures, alongside wider environment
surveillance to determine the scale of the issue and identify
additional suitable management actions.
“All landowners, managers and timber processors should remain
vigilant for Ips typographus. It is important for landowners to
continue to check the health of spruce trees on their land, this
is particularly important now we are entering the next flight
season.”
For authorisation to commence felling, move or process spruce
material that has originated in the demarcated area please
contact ipstypographus.authorisation@forestrycommission.gov.uk.
Landowners and managers served with a Statutory Plant Health
Notice due to an outbreak on their site may be eligible for
grants to support felling and restocking activity through the
Tree Health Pilot. The
Forestry Commission is encouraging landowners to proactively
remove spruce from the South East of England and replant with
other non-susceptible species. A new map indicating the
‘proactive spruce removal area' is available via this link.
A new map is available to
view the boundaries of the extended demarcated area.
Additional information:
