How could the disease affect the trees and woods of the New Forest?
Experience so far in Britain is that only a small number of trees have been infected with Phytophthora ramorum. With few exceptions, infected trees do not themselves pose a risk of further spread, because they do not produce inoculum. The key to preventing the spread of the disease is the removal of Rhododendron ponticum host plants. This reduces the number of spores produced that could be spread by rain-splash or the movement of infected plants. However, some tree species display only foliar (leaf) infection, which does produce spores, and in these cases the treatment is pruning of the affected branches and continued monitoring.Although the risk to native oaks is small, there is evidence that other native species such as ash and beech trees, and some non-native species which occur in the New Forest, are susceptible to Phytophthora ramorum. Beech in particular is a characteristic species of the ancient pasture woodlands of the New Forest, so we are keen to take steps to minimise their
