Information on Loughborough

Loughborough Oak Trees In Decline

Posted on 02/10/2007
Loughborough Newsdesk

Oak trees in Loughborough and the rest of Charnwood are suffering from a disease known as Oak Decline it has been reported by Charnwood Borough Council.

Elsewhere in the UK and the rest of Europe Oak Decline is responsible for widespread dieback and oak tree mortality, however it was only seen in Booth Wood in one or two trees about four years ago. Oak decline typically occurs in small pockets, with the longer dead trees in the centre. However it is now becoming more widespread throughout our local Borough.

In many cases the cause of the infection is caused by pathogen called Phytophthora, and typical symptoms are stem cankers.  However Oak decline also involves recurrent episodes of drought (!), other root infecting fungi and continual attack of the foliage by insects.

Mark Graham, Wildlife Development Officer, said: "The most obvious symptom we are seeing on local oak trees is the appearance of a dark brown or black oozing from the trunk, these bleeding cankers are accompanied by a general decline in the trees condition.

Charnwood Borough Council are working in conjunction with the Forestry Commission and a survey of effected trees in the area has been made so progress can be monitored. At the moment there are no news reports of other parts of Leicestershire being affected by the condition.