UK plant health
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Blog
The exceptional summer of 2022: extreme heat and drought and impacts on trees.
Matt Parratt, Observatree Scientific Coordinator, and colleagues at Forest Research, look at the effects of extreme heat and drought on trees.
Matt Parratt • 18 Jul 2023
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Blog
Observatree attends the world’s first International Plant Health Conference
Colleagues from across the Observatree partnership, attended the world’s first International Plant Health Conference. Peter Crow, Observatree’s Project Manager, reflects on some of the conference’s key messages around the current and future global plant health challenges.
Peter Crow • 17 Oct 2022
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Blog
Investing in tree health
At the start of this year, scientists at Forest Research moved into their new state-of-the-art tree health laboratories at Alice Holt in southern England. This new £5.8 million quarantine facility represents a significant expansion of the UK’s capacity to combat tree pests and diseases – threats which continue to emerge due to climate change and globalisation.
Dr Gerard Clover • 24 May 2022
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Blog
Ash Dieback in the National Trust
Ash is one of our most important tree species both ecologically and culturally, and is generally considered to be the third most common tree in British woods, comprising around 12% of woodland tree cover.
Luke Barley • 23 Aug 2021
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Blog
Tree Health issues in Britain from the experts
Plant Health Week, in the International Year of Plant Health, provides an opportunity to reflect upon the current and potential future challenges facing Britain’s trees and what we can all do to help protect them.
Nicola Spence, Gerry Saddler & Martin Williams • 08 Sep 2020
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Blog
Coronavirus or Xylella: The importance of biosecurity, early detection and decisive action.
Professor Nicola Spence, DEFRA's Chief Plant Health Officer, explains why biosecurity is so important.
Professor Nicola Spence • 16 Jun 2020
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Blog
Observatree II: Thoughts from Nicola Spence, Chief Plant Health Officer, Defra
Welcome to Observatree II! Read thoughts from DEFRA's Chief Plant Health Officer, Nicola Spence, as the project moves forwards.
Professor Nicola Spence • 25 Oct 2018
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Blog
‘Palmageddon’ heading our way
Anybody visiting tourist resorts in the Mediterranean today will likely encounter large numbers of dying and dead palms. What is the reason for this ‘palmageddon’ in the Mediterranean?
Chris Malumphy • 13 Apr 2018
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Blog
Better biosecurity – it’s up to you!
As Biosecurity Officer for Forestry, Becki and I will be working closely together to raise awareness of tree health and encourage the uptake of biosecure behaviours across our specific industries and amongst landowners and engaged public.
Katherine Deeks • 30 Oct 2017
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Blog
State of the World’s Plants
I had the pleasure of attending a ‘State of the World’s Plants’ symposium in May at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Charles Lane • 14 Aug 2017