Sudden Oak Death Possible Restrictions to Lanes

[Drift]

Some lanes in the South East and South Wales are likely to be affected by this at short notice.

An outbreak of the tree disease caused by Phytophthora ramorum (P. ramorum) was confirmed in Welsh Assembly Government woodlands in south Wales in late May 2010.

P. ramorum is a fungus-like pathogen that kills most trees that it infects. It was found on Japanese larch trees in south west England last year, and the outbreak in woodlands in the Afan Valley, near Port Talbot, Garw Valley, near Bridgend, and the Vale of Glamorgan is the first time it has been encountered on larch elsewhere in Great Britain.

Currently, the outbreak in south Wales only affects woodlands managed by Forestry Commission Wales on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government. However, the situation is changing rapidly as surveys are undertaken and it is likely that the infection has spread more widely.

Woodlands managed by Forestry Commission Wales remain open to the public but everyone who works in or visits the affected areas must observe some simple biosecurity precautions so that they don’t inadvertently spread the pathogen.

Signs at forest entrances tell visitors what they need to do to help contain the outbreak such as walking on paths, keeping dogs on leads, cleaning footwear and not taking any plant material away.

P. ramorum is not harmful to humans or animals.

Please see the links in this section for more detailed information or contact Forestry Commission Wales Grants & Regulations Office at Clawdd Newydd, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 2NL Tel: 0300 068 0300, e-mail: bww.ts@forestry.gsi.gov.uk.

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-85TDX6

And

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/WCAS-4Z5JLL

[Road Hog]

This one is possibly going to be more devistating than Dutch Elm a few years back,as this is not a single species disease

[Drift]

The problem with this its spread on the wind as spores and on carriers such as cars, walker, horses and the like.
Dutch Elm was spread by an insect so was more containable to a certain extent.

[bobbinsjob]

this could be just the ammo the Nerc lot and antis need

[gregster]

This has been going on for a while now....rhinefields tall tree walk in the new forest hampshire was restricted a year and a half ago when we were down there on hollibobs in the caravan...dogs had to be kept on leads and not allowed to wander as can spread the infection...

[jontera]

this could be just the ammo the Nerc lot and antis need

but as Drift has mentioned, it's not just us that would be banned..it'll be the walkers, horses, cyclists ect this isn't one they can "pin" on the 4X4 driver.

[snapper]

this could be just the ammo the Nerc lot and antis need

but as Drift has mentioned, it's not just us that would be banned..it'll be the walkers, horses, cyclists ect this isn't one they can "pin" on the 4X4 driver.

You wish... while I totally agree with any restriction legitimately put in place to prevent the spread of the infection I think it would be wishful thinking to hope that it would be applied in a fair way that didn't discriminate against the 4x4 or other motoring public.

If you really think about the method of transfer etc and then risk assess it I would have expected walkers to top the risk list closely followed by horse's and their riders, then farm livestock appearing around the middle and vehicles being in the bottom 25%

The one thing that lets vehicles down is the potential for them to travel great distances from the point of infection. But this can be mitigated by washing the vehicle and considering if the spores have the ability to 'hang on' as the vehicle drives away at a great rate of knots (if your a wee lightweight spore, designed to be blown away in the wind, it would akin to us trying to stand up and not get blown away while stood 3 mtrs behind a Tornado Fast Jet on re-heat).

People (walkers, green, tree-hugging type) and horse's c/w riders on the other hand have a much higher capability to trap a greater number of spores on clothing, hair etc and not quickly dispel them in the immediate area of contamination with the potential to spread the spores over a greater area.

Also, while it would be a good giggle I really can’t see either of this group willingly going through the nearest car wash to clean off any contamination.


Just wait… The restrictions will be emphasised on vehicles with a complete ban with walkers and horse riders receiving some lighter form of restriction, but on review the access restrictions put in place on the walkers and riders will be lifted while that placed on vehicles will remain in place permanently.