Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2011 | Page 85

country life

Island Life - February/March 2011

have spread initially from Asia.
Until a couple of years ago it was believed
to only affect Rhododendron but in 2009,
the pathogen was discovered on Japanese

two main genera of our native oak, sessile
and peduncuate, show a resistance to the
Phytophthora.
So the future of our wonderful woodlands

Larch and has since travelled to Douglas fir

is under threat from many angles. It just

and sweet chestnut among others. The first

goes to highlight that we cannot take our

signs are when the trees foliage starts to

countryside for granted. Make the most of

wilt or blacken. By then it’s too late. Black

what we have around us today and support

fluid starts to seep from unsightly wounds

it as best you can. Local woodland products,

in the bark. Death is usually not far away.

such as firewood, charcoal and timber will all

Cutting down and abstraction is the only

help towards their sustainability and ensuring

treatment to help prevent further infestation.

that the people with the correct intentions

The real fear is that the pathogen may well

run our Public Forest Woodlands for us to

continue to ‘jump’ species. In America it is

enjoy.

known as Sudden Oak Death. Luckily the
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