Search Observatree
-
Video
Winter Webinar - Tree Canopy Assessments
Crown condition is used to score how healthy trees are. Essentially, the more leaves a tree has the more energy it can produce and use for growth and defence against pests and pathogens. Crown condition can be assessed visually to give an estimate of foliage density. This is a simple process but it has traditionally relied on extensive training and calibration activities to ensure agreement between individuals.
Crown condition monitoring has been undertaken by Forest Research since the 1980s, but only at 84 sites with oak trees. We would like to understand the changing condition of oak trees at a wider number of locations, and we think sentinel tree monitoring by citizen scientists could help us achieve this goal. As part of the BacStop project ( https://bacterialplantdiseases.uk/bac... ) we ran a series of workshops in 2021 and 2023 to develop training materials and methods that would allow volunteers to participate in crown condition monitoring. Here we present a summary of work to date as well as plans to continue this work.
Nathan Brown is an environmental modeller at Forest Research. He works on oak health monitoring and surveillance of tree pests and diseases. He has an interest in developing methods to interpret and add value to volunteered data.
Recorded on Feb 21 202400:30:31
-
Agrilus fleischeri - UK risk register entry
External link
-
Pests and diseases
Pests and diseases by tree species
To make it easier for you to spot tree pests and diseases, we have listed our 22 priorties by main host tree species.
-
Video
Host of the Month Beech - July 2024
Learn identification of beech and its associated priority pests or diseases. Recorded on 3rd July 2024.
00:25:08
-
Video
Host of the Month Pine - August 2024
Learn identification of pine and its associated priority pests or diseases. Recorded on 7th August 2024.
00:33:28
-
Blog
Host of the month - Lawson cypress
Matt Parratt, Observatree Scientific Coordinator, looks at Lawson cypress (Cupressus lawsoniana) and its associated pathogen, Phytophthora lateralis.
Matt Parratt • 19 Jan 2024
-
Blog
Observatree Visit to Rosliston Forestry Centre
Charles Lane reflects on a recent Observatree visit to the Rosliston Forestry Centre.
Charles Lane • 28 May 2025
-
Video
Seasonal Survey Highlights Winter
In this video, Charles Lane, Plant Health Consultant at Fera Science Ltd, reminds us of the Observatree project resources that are relevant for the forthcoming season, focusing on the priority pest and diseases for Dec-Feb: Chalara ash dieback, Emerald ash borer, Great spruce bark beetle and Phytophthora lateralis.
00:14:24
-
Host of the Month: Oak and Acute Oak Decline - April 2025
PDF • 1.75 MB
-
Identifying bleeds on a tree part 3 - Other causes and reporting
Video • 00:07:10