ONE of Scotland's best-loved public gardens has been affected by an outbreak of a tree-killing disease which has blighted forests across the UK.
Conservation charity the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) has begun to cut down larch trees and other susceptible host plants after uncovering the presence of the fungus-like blight Phytophthora ramorum at Inverewe, near Poolewe in Wester Ross.
Phytophthora ramorum is a pathogen better known as ‘sudden oak death’ or ‘Ramorum dieback’ and is often referred to in Britain as 'larch tree disease'.
It has been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of trees in other parts of the UK, with one outbreak in Wales fuelling fears that the number of trees to die could reach into the millions.
Staff at the garden, which was created from a barren landscape by Osgood Mackenzie in the 1860s, were made aware of the presence of the disease before Christmas.
The outbreak is confined to the outlying parts of the garden and has not spread to the core interior. NTS estimate it will cost more than £20,000 to eradicate the blight by chopping down affected trees and any other plants around them to a depth of 250 metres.
This will create an exclusion zone which it is hoped will halt the spread of the disease.
NTS Property Manager for Inverewe, Kevin Frediani said: “Phytophthora is a fungus-like pathogen which can badly damage and often kill trees. Since being found in the UK for the first time in 2009 it has spread rapidly and made it to the west of Scotland in 2011.
“Responsible landowners, like the National Trust for Scotland, undertake regular visuals checks from the ground.
“Fortunately, the affected larch are not in a core part of the garden, though the shelterbelt will have to be re-planted with a less susceptible species in order to ensure the garden continues to be protected from harsh winds in future, which is essential for the microclimate that garden enjoys."
Inverewe, is surrounded by a 2000-acre estate and is said to have one of the most spectacular settings of any gardens in Europe.
It draws warmth from the waters of the Gulf Stream, allowing it to support a range of sub-tropical plants despite being perched on a northerly peninsula at the edge of Loch Ewe.
The source of the infection is unknown as spores can be blown over very long distances.
Last year, Forestry Commission Scotland said it was working with contractors to clear around a million tonnes of timber affected by Phytophthora ramorum in Galloway Forest Park. It was first found larch trees in the region in 2010.
Mr Frediani added: “We are required to fell the affected trees up to 250 metres out as part of a containment zone, as well as removing Rhododendron the vicinity that can also be infected.
"We will be able to do this using in-house teams by the February deadline, though the costs incurred to our charity will exceed £20,000."
"Our teams are working hard to ensure there will be very little impact on visitors or the overall integrity of Inverewe Garden, though we will be asking everyone to respect guidance which is designed to prevent any further infections or transference elsewhere.
Felling will be completed at Inverewe by the end of February and the wood will be disposed of using approved methods. Monitoring will continue afterwards to enable prompt action can be taken if the disease is found to have spread.
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