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Tree disease phytophthora ramorum spotted by helicopter | |
(2 days later) | |
By Jonathan Morris BBC News, Plymouth | By Jonathan Morris BBC News, Plymouth |
Ben Jones is about to take off on a six-hour helicopter trip to survey the front line in the battle against phytophthora ramorum. | Ben Jones is about to take off on a six-hour helicopter trip to survey the front line in the battle against phytophthora ramorum. |
His fungus quarry was first found in in the UK in 2002 in bushes like rhododendrons. | His fungus quarry was first found in in the UK in 2002 in bushes like rhododendrons. |
In 2009 it spread to larch and it is known to affect 130 other species of trees and bushes. | In 2009 it spread to larch and it is known to affect 130 other species of trees and bushes. |
More than two million trees have been felled around the UK as the Forestry Commission tries to stop the spread of the killer disease. | More than two million trees have been felled around the UK as the Forestry Commission tries to stop the spread of the killer disease. |
The Food and Environmental Research Agency has been using a map to monitor the spread of the disease. | The Food and Environmental Research Agency has been using a map to monitor the spread of the disease. |
But with spring bringing new growth to trees, the Forestry Commission is hoping to get a true picture of the latest situation. | But with spring bringing new growth to trees, the Forestry Commission is hoping to get a true picture of the latest situation. |
Larch trees shed their needles in the winter making the disease hard to spot. | Larch trees shed their needles in the winter making the disease hard to spot. |
The aim is to get to the disease as quickly as possible and prevent it spreading when the trees give off spores in the autumn. | The aim is to get to the disease as quickly as possible and prevent it spreading when the trees give off spores in the autumn. |
The tools of Mr Jones and his team of two are a hired helicopter from Liskeard in Cornwall and a digital SLR camera. | The tools of Mr Jones and his team of two are a hired helicopter from Liskeard in Cornwall and a digital SLR camera. |
They have already taken pictures of larch plantations mainly in the South West and along the west coast. | They have already taken pictures of larch plantations mainly in the South West and along the west coast. |
He said the disease prospered there because of the prevalent moist conditions. | He said the disease prospered there because of the prevalent moist conditions. |
Mr Jones said: "The variability of the weather is playing in our favour at the moment. | Mr Jones said: "The variability of the weather is playing in our favour at the moment. |
"Last winter was bad for disease because it was cold and this spring has not been good because it has been dry." | "Last winter was bad for disease because it was cold and this spring has not been good because it has been dry." |
Their work will continue until October, taking in Scotland and Northern Ireland. | Their work will continue until October, taking in Scotland and Northern Ireland. |
On a six-hour trip they can cover a territory up to 800 miles long and three miles wide. | On a six-hour trip they can cover a territory up to 800 miles long and three miles wide. |
On their last mission they took about 600 pictures in the Peak District. | On their last mission they took about 600 pictures in the Peak District. |
The camera is linked to a GPS tagging machine so analysts on the ground can pinpoint exactly which areas are affected. | The camera is linked to a GPS tagging machine so analysts on the ground can pinpoint exactly which areas are affected. |
On each trip they are looking for signs of deterioration of the crown of larch trees which cannot be seen so easily from the ground. | On each trip they are looking for signs of deterioration of the crown of larch trees which cannot be seen so easily from the ground. |
Polarised sunglasses emphasise colour contrasts and the brown crowns of infected trees. | Polarised sunglasses emphasise colour contrasts and the brown crowns of infected trees. |
"We can cover large areas of ground relatively quickly and identify sites for teams on the ground," said Mr Jones. | "We can cover large areas of ground relatively quickly and identify sites for teams on the ground," said Mr Jones. |
"Early detection is a way of managing the situation because the more spores there are the more likely it is to spread to other species." | "Early detection is a way of managing the situation because the more spores there are the more likely it is to spread to other species." |
Landowners with infected trees get a compulsory felling notice. | Landowners with infected trees get a compulsory felling notice. |
The Forestry Commission says there is no evidence that the quality of the timber is affected by the disease but landowners get financial help with restocking. | The Forestry Commission says there is no evidence that the quality of the timber is affected by the disease but landowners get financial help with restocking. |
Larch is used extensively for garden furniture, fencing and pallets and is worth millions to the South West's economy. | Larch is used extensively for garden furniture, fencing and pallets and is worth millions to the South West's economy. |
In Devon and Cornwall, some of the worst-affected counties, 100 hectares of infected trees in the Glynn Valley have been felled. | In Devon and Cornwall, some of the worst-affected counties, 100 hectares of infected trees in the Glynn Valley have been felled. |
Nearly 20 hectares are being flattened in the Herodsfoot area and work starts on Monday to remove almost 30 hectares of Japanese larch from Idless Woods near Truro. | Nearly 20 hectares are being flattened in the Herodsfoot area and work starts on Monday to remove almost 30 hectares of Japanese larch from Idless Woods near Truro. |
As Mr Jones prepares to fly on another aerial survey he is optimistic the disease can be brought under control, but not eradicated. | As Mr Jones prepares to fly on another aerial survey he is optimistic the disease can be brought under control, but not eradicated. |
"Eradication may be possible on individual sites but as a whole eradication is unlikely," he said. | "Eradication may be possible on individual sites but as a whole eradication is unlikely," he said. |
"Like potato blight, which is from the same family, it's very difficult to control but we can manage it." | "Like potato blight, which is from the same family, it's very difficult to control but we can manage it." |
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