#PlantHealthWeek

Jo Clark, Head of Research, Future Trees Trust

As part of International Year of Plant Health, Defra is hosting the UK’s first Plant Health Week, in collaboration with multiple organisations in the plant and forestry sectors:

“This is the UK’s first #PlantHealthWeek. With numerous highly pathogenic pests and disease becoming every increasingly prevalent, it has never been more essential to carry out good biosecurity practice in the woods. We don’t always think about all the diseases that we could be spreading so it’s important to make biosecurity part of your day to day routine. Boots should be cleaned before and after each site visit to prevent the spread of diseases.” Jo Clark, Head of Research at Future Trees Trust

This week Defra is advising you to LOOK OUT – for any unusual symptoms on trees and plants and report them to the Forestry Commission’s Tree Alert website or the Animal and Plant Health Agency. This will be a Citizen Science day, led by The Tree Council and Observatree, talking about the role of the public in stopping the spread of pests and diseases.

At Future Trees Trust, we are working with Forest Research, Kew and Fera, funded by Defra, to identify and secure ash trees tolerant to Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (ash dieback) to ensure this fabulous and useful tree remains a viable option to foresters. You can find out more about how you can help on the project website.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]