A TREE disease which forced the closure of large areas of plantation in Ballaugh and Colden in October was identified as 'Sudden Oak Death'.
Sudden Oak Death - or Phytophthora ramorum - is a fungus-like pathogen which is serious in Japanese larch (larix kaempferi) trees and rhododendron (rhododendron ponticum), both of which produce large numbers of infective spores.
The disease, which kills larch trees very quickly, is a recent appearance in Britain and was confirmed in Colden (West Baldwin) and Ballaugh plantations.
Larch trees produce large quantities of the spores that spread the disease which can infect a wide range of trees and plant species.
A spokesperson for the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture said: "To control the disease the department will fell areas within both Ballaugh and Colden Plantations, amounting to around 9,000 m3 of timber covering an area of some 30 Hectares (74 acres).
"Whilst the department carries out the necessary sanitation felling of infected areas the decision has been taken to close Colden plantation to the public and restrict access to Ballaugh plantation.
"The department therefore asks members of the public to respect and observe all site signage and information notices to help prevent the risk of the disease spreading not only to other plantations but also to plants in the uplands and private gardens."
The outbreak was first suspected after aerial surveys were undertaken by the Forestry Commission, in conjunction with the UK Food and Environment Research Agency.
Experts followed-up with ground inspections and laboratory analysis of samples taken from trees which showed possible symptoms of the disease.
Dr John Morgan, head of the Forestry Commission’s plant health service, said: "Overall the number and area of outbreaks on larch that we are finding this year are down on the previous two years, and most are close to, or contiguous with, previously infected sites.
"However these outbreaks in new regions demonstrate that the threat posed by this disease is still serious."
This story is part of isleofman.com's Review of the Year 2011.
