Sudden Oak Death Confirmed In Wales - Has Spread From SW England Since 2009 - BBC

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A deadly tree and plant disease first found in the UK in 2002 has spread to Wales, the Forestry Commission says. Spores of the fungus-like organism referred to as "sudden oak death" have spread across the Bristol Channel to south Wales, said the commission.

In 2009 Japanese larch trees in south west England were found to be infected. "This appearance and spread into larch trees in Wales add to our concern," said Roddie Burgess of the Forestry Commission.

The organism, Phytophthora ramorum, gets its common name because it kills many of the trees and plants that it infects, the commission explained.

It was first identified eight years ago on a viburnum plant at a garden centre and has since infected shrubs including rhododendrons, viburnums and bilberries. Last year's outbreak made south west England the only place in the world where it has attacked large numbers of commercially grown conifer species.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/wales/10288813.stm