The Forestry Commission has reported that the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle has been detected on a small number of Sitka spruce trees in the UK.
The beetle – Ips typographus – is a pest that has damaged spruce trees across Europe. The Forestry Commission is “taking rapid eradication” action and urges landowners and forest managers to be vigilant and report sightings.
The ‘Demarcated Area’, as of June 2024: check the Forestry Commission website should there be an update
Where has the beetle been found?
The beetle was discovered on some cut and fallen trees in a site in West Sussex within a stand of infected and unhealthy Norway spruce trees. This part of south east England is being referred to as the Demarcated Area. “There is no evidence of spread within the UK,” the Forestry Commission states.
The Confederation of Forest Industries (Confor) has responded by clarifying that this bark-beetle outbreak is being successfully contained within this area. All the evidence suggests the beetle has blown over from Europe on warm winds – rather than spreading within the UK.
“Landowners, agents and timber processors should note ongoing restrictions for movement of spruce material and methods of forest operations in the Demarcated Area,” cautioned Professor Nicola Spence, Defra’s Chief Plant Health Officer.
“Rapid eradication measures are being taken, alongside wider surveillance to determine the scale of the outbreak, and identify further management steps required”
Dr Anna Brown, Director of Forest Services, Forestry Commission
Spruce in southeast England
The Forestry Commission is encouraging landowners in South East England – who, as Confor point out, are clearly are in higher risk areas for continental blow over of the bark beetle – to proactively harvest spruce and replant with non-susceptible species.
It also highlights a Proactive Spruce Removal area within the southern part of the Demarcated Area, whereby Tree Health Pilot grants will support this process.
Confor will be working with Defra, the Foresty Commission and other partners to protect the spruce-based forest industry across the UK.
UK plant health requirements
While the beetle is believed to have blown to the UK, it is worth noting that timber importers have a legal duty to ensure the wood they import meets UK plant health requirements when it arrives at the UK border, either in a ship or on a lorry.
The exact plant health requirements vary by species and country of origin. In the case of coniferous wood from Europe (which in volume terms is the majority of the UK import) wood imports have to be fully bark free.
Random inspections by border control and Forestry Commission Plant Health inspectors are in place to enforce these regulations. If the wood does not meet plant health requirements at the border it will be turned away or potentially destroyed at that point with the importer having to pay any costs incurred.
The Forestry Commission’s statement can be read in full here
