Protecting Our Trees: New Measures Against the Eight-Toothed Spruce Bark Beetle
At Beechwood Trees and Landscapes Ltd, we are dedicated to safeguarding the health and beauty of our forests and woodlands.
Recent findings of the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) in Suffolk and Norfolk have prompted the Forestry Commission to take new actions to protect against this destructive pest.
The Threat of the Eight-Toothed Spruce Bark Beetle
The eight-toothed spruce bark beetle is a significant pest of spruce trees in Europe, first identified in the UK in Kent in 2018. This beetle prefers stressed or dying trees but can also attack healthy ones under the right conditions, posing a serious threat to Great Britain’s forestry and timber industries.
Expanded Demarcated Area
In response to recent detections, the Forestry Commission is expanding the current demarcated area (DMA) to include additional parts of East Anglia and the South East of England. Starting from Wednesday, 12 June 2024, the DMA will now cover parts of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk.
New Plant Health Requirements
Within the demarcated areas, stringent measures are being introduced to prevent the spread of the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle:
Movement Restrictions: The felling and movement of all spruce material, including trees, wood with bark, isolated bark, and wood chip with bark, are prohibited unless authorised by the Forestry Commission.
Notification Requirement: Woodland managers must provide written notification to the Forestry Commission if they intend to fell or kill any spruce trees over three metres in height.
Processing Restrictions: Spruce material from the demarcated area can only be processed at premises authorised by the Forestry Commission.
Prohibition of In Situ Susceptible Material: Susceptible material cannot be left in situ unless authorised in writing by a plant health inspector.
For full guidance on these requirements, please visit the Forestry Commission website.
Vigilance and Reporting
The Forestry Commission continues to manage the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle and prevent its establishment within Great Britain. All landowners, managers, and timber processors are urged to remain vigilant, especially as temperatures rise and we enter the beetle's flight season. Regularly check the health of spruce trees on your land and report any suspected findings using the online portal TreeAlert.
Andrea Deol, a spokesperson for the Forestry Commission, emphasizes the importance of vigilance:
“Following a report of Ips typographus in East Anglia, we conducted a swift investigation including rapid eradication measures, alongside wider environment surveillance to determine the scale of the issue and identify additional suitable management actions. It is important for landowners to continue to check the health of spruce trees on their land, particularly as we enter the next flight season.”
Support for Landowners
Landowners and managers who receive a Statutory Plant Health Notice due to an outbreak may be eligible for grants to support felling and restocking activities through the Tree Health Pilot. The Forestry Commission encourages proactive removal of spruce from the South East of England and replanting with non-susceptible species. A new map indicating the ‘proactive spruce removal area’ is available on the Forestry Commission website.
Stay Informed
For authorisation to commence felling, move, or process spruce material from the demarcated area, please contact ipstypographus.authorisation@forestrycommission.gov.uk.
For more information on the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle and the measures being taken to control its spread, visit the GOV.UK website. An informative Q&A session for those affected by the expanded DMA will be held online on 12 June. You can book your place via Eventbrite.
At Beechwood Trees and Landscapes Ltd, we remain committed to protecting our woodlands and supporting landowners in managing tree health.
Stay vigilant, stay informed, and together we can combat the threat of the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle.
For more details on how we can assist you with tree management and health, feel free to contact us directly.
Stay safe and keep your trees healthy!
