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Blog

Becoming an Observatree volunteer; learning together and becoming a part of the family.

Dr Kate Lewthwaite, Citizen Science Manager at the Woodland Trust, reflects on the role of the volunteer, the training opportunities and their vital to the Observatree project.

Dr Kate Lewthwaite  •  16 Oct 2023

Blog

Defining Tree Health

Matt Parratt offers an explanation of how to define tree health in the context of Observatree. 

Matt Parratt  •  21 Nov 2024

Blog

On the trail of Sirococcus tsugae

Lead Volunteer, Andy Gordon, lets us know about his experience of surveying for Sirococcus tsugae.

Andy Gordon  •  14 Aug 2018

Pests and diseases

Beech Leaf Disease

Beech leaf disease is a newly described disease causing discolouration of beech leaves. 

Blog

Negative data is good!

One of the key messages we give Observatree volunteers is that you don’t have to find something to make a survey worthwhile or valuable.

Ellie Barham  •  08 Mar 2017

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

TreeAlert Demystified: What happens when you submit a report?

A question that the Tree Health Diagnostic and Advisory Service team are often asked is, ‘What happens when I send in a TreeAlert enquiry, how does it all work?’  Here, Chris Berman, entomology diagnostician at Forest Research, pulls back the curtain on what goes on behind the scenes!

Chris Berman  •  23 Jan 2025

Blog

Host of the month - Elm

For this month's host tree of interest, Matt Parratt focusses on Elm (Ulmus species) and Elm zigzag sawfly (Aproceros leucopoda).

Matt Parratt  •  15 May 2025