This tree killer has made another species jump, this time into Bilberry.
It is a notifiable disease, and has made two species jumps in recent times, so please keep your eye's open when out and about.
For those that don't know what it looks like a link to a pdf with good images.
Link
It's both what you do and the way that you do it!
You cannot fly like an eagle with the wings of a wren. William Henry Hudson (1841 - 1922)
This is very worrying indeed, especially as bilberry is important for birds such as Ring ouzel, Twite and Black grouse - all RED status birds. One wonders where it will jump to next!
Claire
Yes this is a worry and there is no way of knowing where it will go,
It was more of a pest before, neither rhododendrons or japanese larch offer much to wildlife.
sorry to hear this mpiekp
Izzy
That's very worrying...this plant is what us folks down in this neck of the woods call whortleberries & there are absolutely tonnes of them all over Haldon, Dartmoor & Exmoor. 100 odd years ago my ancestors on western Exmoor used to harvest wild worts for sale at market just to try & make ends meet. I saw the first berries this year on Haldon this week. I'd hate to think they were in danger. I will be busy looking out for it now. Who do I contact if I see it ?
clare b said: That's very worrying...this plant is what us folks down in this neck of the woods call whortleberries & there are absolutely tonnes of them all over Haldon, Dartmoor & Exmoor. 100 odd years ago my ancestors on western Exmoor used to harvest wild worts for sale at market just to try & make ends meet. I saw the first berries this year on Haldon this week. I'd hate to think they were in danger. I will be busy looking out for it now. Who do I contact if I see it ?
The forestry commission.
even if its not on their land, they enforce the treatment and monitor for further spreads.