Pests and diseases

Blog

Host of the Month - Sweet Chestnut

Matt Parratt, Observatree Scientific Coordinator, looks at sweet chestnut, Oriental chestnut gall wasp and sweet chestnut blight.

Matt Parratt  •  07 Nov 2023

Blog

The science behind Observatree

As part of the ongoing ten-year celebrations, Peter Crow, Observatree's project manager, looks at the power of combining citizens and science.

Peter Crow  •  25 Oct 2023

Blog

Observatree: Where it all began

Jane Barbrook, Plant Health & Seeds Inspectorate (Animal & Plant Health Agency), looks back at the start of the Observatree project and considers its ongoing success.

Jane Barbrook  •  05 Oct 2023

Blog

10 highlights from the past 10 years of Observatree

Professor Nicola Spence, Chief Plant Health Office at Defra, reflects on 10 achievements and successes from the first 10 years of the ground-breaking Observatree initiative. 

Nicola Spence  •  01 Oct 2023

Blog

Host of the month - Maples

Matt Parratt, Observatree Scientific Coordinator, looks at Asian and Citrus longhorn beetles.

Matt Parratt  •  26 Sep 2023

Blog

Host of the month - Plane

Matt Parratt, Observatree Scientific Coordinator, highlights plane, plane lace bug and plane wilt.

Matt Parratt  •  29 Aug 2023

Blog

Host of the month - Pine

Matt Parratt, Observatree Scientific Coordinator, highlights pines and Dothistroma needle blight.

Matt Parratt  •  29 Aug 2023

Blog

BGCI and the IPSN: Botanic gardens in the fight against invasive plant threats

Miles Kitching looks at how Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) and the International Plant Sentinel Network (IPSN) have been working together to tackle threats to plant biodiversity

Miles Kitching  •  31 Oct 2022

Blog

Beech Leaf Disease

A new disease of beech trees (Fagus spp.) named ‘Beech leaf disease’ (BLD) is spreading through forest areas in eastern USA and Canada. Charles Lane and Tom Prior discuss the threat posed to UK woods. 

Tom Prior  •  14 Jul 2022

Blog

Oak Processionary Moth

Oak processionary moth (OPM) caterpillars are priority pests which target trees in the Quercus genus. They were accidentally introduced into England in 2005, but thanks to strict survey and control programme, they have not become established outside of the South of England.

Fritha West  •  18 Apr 2022