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Blog

Out with the old and in with the new: Welcome to Observatree

In 2017, Observatree produced more educational resources, ran successful media campaigns, trained stakeholders and volunteers across the county, attended events, held a volunteer celebration event and hosted a conference.

Peter Crow  •  07 Jan 2018

Blog

How does Observatree fit into tree disease?

Observatree project is asking citizens to help in protecting our trees from new pests and diseases, but why is this an issue and why is citizen science part of the answer?

Joan Webber  •  06 May 2015

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

Video

Aerial Surveillance to Detect Pests and Diseases - February 2023

This talk will explain how the Forestry Commission use aerial surveillance (helicopters and drones) to survey trees for signs of poor health, disease and/or pest infestation. We will use Ips typographus as a case study to show how this work feeds into pest outbreak response work. We will also talk about the signs and symptoms looked for during drone surveillance for a range of emerging pests and diseases.

00:44:35

Blog

Host of the month - Elm

Matt Parratt reviews Elm (Ulmus species) and the Elm zigzag sawfly.

Matt Parratt  •  16 May 2024

FAQ

Observatree FAQs

Frequently asked questions about Observatree and tree health.

Blog

Host of the month - Sweet chestnut

Matt Parratt discusses Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) and its associated pest: the Oriental chestnut gall wasp, and its associated disease: Sweet chestnut blight.

Matt Parratt  •  17 Oct 2024

Blog

Host of the month - Beech

Matt Parratt looks at Beech (Fagus sylvatica) and its associated Beech leaf disease.

Matt Parratt  •  20 Jun 2024

Blog

Host of the month - Cedar

This month Matt Parratt takes a look at Cedars and Sirococcus blight.

Matt Parratt  •  17 Apr 2025