Trees: Sudden Oak Death Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Baroness Trumpington
Main Page: Baroness Trumpington (Conservative - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Baroness Trumpington's debates with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Trees: Sudden Oak Death
Baroness Trumpington Excerpts(13 years, 11 months ago)
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Lord Henley
My Lords, obviously we want to learn from that. I appreciate what the right reverend Prelate had to say. The disease is largely in the south-west at the moment and that is where most of the timber is affected. That is why we are trying to clear fell as much as possible not only of Japanese larch but of rhododendrons, which are the sporulating species that are likely to spread this disease. As the right reverend Prelate will be aware, rhododendron grows close to the ground. The Japanese larch, being tall trees, will allow this disease to spread over greater distances. That is why we are moving very fast to get as much as possible of the almost 8,000 acres felled as soon as possible.
Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, first it was the elm, then the oak and the horse chestnut. Is there something sinister in all this? Is it climatic and do neighbouring countries suffer from the same diseases in the same breeds of trees?