Phytophthora pluvialis
Information about Phytophthora pluvialis, including how to report sightings.
Read the latest press release: Forestry Commission lifts Phytophthora pluvialis restrictions on timber industry.
List of authorised processors for Phytophthora pluvialis.
Also read our blog: Behind the scenes - Managing the outbreak of Phytophthora pluvialis
Phytophthora pluvialis, is a fungus-like pathogen known to affect a variety of trees including western hemlock, tanoak, pine (Pinus radiata, Pinus patula and Pinus strobus) and Douglas-fir. It was originally reported in Oregon, USA in 2013 on tanoak and Douglas fir and was subsequently identified as the pathogen responsible for ’red needle cast’ of radiata pine in New Zealand.
Phytophthora pluvialis was discovered in a woodland in Cornwall in September 2021, where it was found to be affecting mature western hemlock and Douglas-fir trees. Following extensive surveillance, further outbreaks have been found in Cornwall, Devon, Cumbria, Surrey, Shropshire and at multiple sites in Scotland and Wales. For further information on the Scotland finding and management approach please visit the Scottish Forestry website. For further information on the findings in Wales please visit the Welsh Government website.
Example of Phytophthora pluvialis lesions on a tree stem.
Symptoms
Phytophthora pluvialis is known to cause needle cast, shoot dieback, and lesions on the stem, branches, and roots.
Read the which illustrates some of the symptomatic trees from which Phytophthora pluvialis has been detected in the UK.
Reporting Sightings
Please remain vigilant for signs of Phytophthora pluvialis. If you think you have spotted signs of this disease anywhere in Great Britain then please tell us using TreeAlert.
Report suspected sightings in Northern Ireland using Treecheck, the all-Ireland tree pest reporting tool.
The Plant Health (Phytophthora pluvialis) Demarcated Area Notices
A risk assessment has been done by the UK Plant Health Risk Group, which has concluded that Phytophthora pluvialis meets the criteria to be classified as a GB quarantine pest for regulatory purposes. A Pest Risk Analysis was also completed in October 2022 following public consultation. To protect England against this disease, under powers conferred by The Official Controls (Plant Health and Genetically Modified Organisms) (England) Regulations 2019, the Forestry Commission has introduced demarcated areas around the confirmed outbreak sites, and introduced movement restrictions on materials capable of spreading the disease using Notices.
January 2023 update
Having considered the latest information from ongoing research and monitored symptoms of the disease at infected sites, the Demarcated Areas Notices have been revised to remove movement restrictions on wood, isolated bark and trees. Movement restrictions remain in place on plants for planting within demarcated areas.
Six demarcated areas are currently in place in England:
Cornwall and Devon
Demarcated Area No.15 Notice comes into force on 24 January 2023 replacing the which was issued on 14 April 2022 and applies to parts of Cornwall and Devon. The covers parts of Cornwall and Devon within the boundaries shown in the demarcated area and within , which also contains a description of the boundary.
Cumbria
Demarcated Area No.16 Notice comes into force on 24 January 2023 replacing the which was issued on 20 January 2022 and applies to parts of Cumbria. The covers parts of Cumbria within the boundaries shown in the demarcated area and within the , which also contains a description of the boundary.
Herefordshire
Demarcated Area No.17 Notice comes into force on 24 January 2023 replacing the which was issued on 25 February 2022 and applied to parts of Herefordshire. The covers parts of Herefordshire within the boundaries shown in the demarcated area and within the which also contains a description of the boundary.
A corresponding Demarcated Area Notice has been issued in Wales for this outbreak site.
Surrey
Demarcated Area No.18 Notice comes into force on 24 January 2023 replacing which was issued on 9 June 2022 and applied to parts of Surrey. The covers parts of Surrey within the boundaries shown in the demarcated area and within the , which also contains a description of the boundary.
Gloucestershire
Demarcated area No. 19 comes in to force on 24 January 2023 and applies to parts of Gloucestershire, replacing the which was issued on 14 April 2022 and applied to parts of Gloucestershire. The covers parts of Gloucestershire within the boundaries shown in the demarcated area and within the , which also contains a description of the boundary.
A corresponding Demarcated Area Notice has been issued for Wales for this outbreak site.
Shropshire
Demarcated area No. 20 comes into force on 24 January 2023 replacing which was issued on 9 June 2022 and applied to parts of Shropshire. covers parts of Shropshire within the boundaries shown in the demarcated area within the which also contains a description of the boundary.
The Notices prohibit the movement of any plants for planting of the genus Tsuga, Pseudotsuga, Pinus and Notholithocarpus, that have originated or are residing within the demarcated area.
Provision is made within the Notices to enable plant health inspectors to authorise movements of material from the demarcated area where this can be achieved without risking the spread of Phytophthora pluvialis.
You must provide notice and can request an authorisation for any movement of plants for planting within the demarcated areas - please contact your local APHA inspector or email your query to planthealth.info@apha.gov.uk.
Any infected material may only be moved to a business explicitly authorised to receive and process infected material these can be found on the Phytophthora pluvialis Authorised Processors list.
Felled material in the demarcated area which is not known to be infected with Phytophthora pluvialis no longer requires inspection or to be sent to authorised processors. For more information or if you have difficulty reaching any of these businesses, please contact Plant Health Forestry Phytophthora pluvialis authorisation team: Ppluvialis.authorisation@forestrycommission.gov.uk.
Updates to this page
Published 20 October 2021Last updated 5 October 2023 + show all updates
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Update to the symptom guide.
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New updates to page and noticed added.
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Addition of an updated notice for Surrey (Notice 13) and a new notice for Shropshire (Notice 14). Both come into effect on the 16 June.
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Addition of UK demarcated area map for Phytophthora pluvialis.
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Extensions to the existing demarcated area in Devon and Cornwall and new demarcated areas in Surrey, and Gloucestershire,
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List of authorised processors added to the page
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A new Demarcated Area Notice No. 8 (Cornwall and Devon) will come into force on 4 March 2022 and will replace Demarcated Area Notice No. 6. A new Demarcated Area Notice No. 9 (Herefordshire) will be introduced on 4 March 2022.
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Page updated to reflect a further finding in Scotland.
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New notices comes into force on 27 January 2022 replacing notices no.4 and no.5
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Information on getting authorisation for felling in the demarcated areas has been updated.
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New demarcated areas and notices that will come into effect on 10 December 2021.
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Link to most recent press release updated.
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Updated to reflect that a new Notice will come into effect on 26 November 2021 with a new demarcated area introduced for parts of Cumbria.
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Updated notice and demarcated area that will come into effect on 19 November 2021.
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Phytopthora pluvialis symptom guide added to the page.
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Addition of a link to the risk assessment.
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First published.