Phytophthora pluvialis, is a fungus-like pathogen known to affect a variety of trees including western hemlock, tanoak, pine (Pinus radiata, Pinus patula and Pinus strobus) and Douglas fir. Douglas-fir. It was originally reported in Oregon, USA in 2013 on tanoak and Douglas fir and was subsequently identified as the pathogen responsible for ’red needle cast’ of radiata pine in New Zealand.

Phytophthora pluvialis was discovered in a woodland in Cornwall in September 2021, where it was found to be affecting mature western hemlock and DouglasDouglas-fir fir trees. Following extensive surveillance, further outbreaks have been found in Cornwall, Devon, Cumbria, Surrey, Shropshire and at multiple sites in Scotland and Wales.

For further information on the Scotland findingsfinding and management approach please visit the Scottish Forestry website. For further information on the findings in Wales please visit the Welsh Government website.

Symptoms

Phytophthora pluvialis is known to cause needle cast, shoot dieback, and lesions on the stem, branches, and roots.

Read the symptom guide (PDF, 3.93 MB, 9 pages) which illustrates some of the symptomatic trees from which Phytophthora pluvialis has been detected in the UK.

ReportReporting sightingsSightings

Please remain vigilant for signs of Phytophthora pluvialis. If you think you have spotted signs of this disease anywhere in Great Britain then please tell us using TreeAlert.

Report suspected sightings in Northern Ireland using TreeCheckTreecheck, the all-Ireland tree pest reporting tool.

ManagementThe Plant Health (Phytophthora pluvialis) Demarcated Area Notices

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Having preventconsidered the introductionlatest information from ongoing research and spreadmonitored symptoms of treethe pestsdisease at infected sites, the Demarcated Areas Notices have been revised to remove movement restrictions on wood, isolated bark and diseases.trees. Movement restrictions remain in place on plants for planting within demarcated areas.

Regulation

Phytopthora pluvialisSix isdemarcated not regulatedareas asare a quarantinecurrently pest for Greatin Britain. place in England:

Cornwall and Devon

A Rapid PestDemarcated RiskArea AnalysisNo.15 Notice comes into force on 24 January 2023 replacing the Phytophthora pluvalis Notice no. 10 was produced (PDF, in246 KB, 5 pages) which was issued on 14 April 2022 and updatedapplies into 2026parts byof Cornwall and Devon. The Demarcated Area No. 15 (PDF, 1.27 MB, 1 page) covers parts of Cornwall and Devon within the UKboundaries Plantshown Healthin Riskthe Group.demarcated Thearea updatedand Rapidwithin Pest RiskPhytophthora Analysispluvalis Notice No. 15 (PDF, concludes246 thatKB, Phytophthora5 pluvialispages), doeswhich notalso meetcontains a description of the criteriaboundary.

Cumbria

Demarcated toArea beNo.16 aNotice quarantinecomes pestinto forforce Greaton Britain,24 andJanuary therefore2023 statutoryreplacing actionthe should Phytophthora notpluvalis beNotice takenNo.7 (PDF, 242 KB, 4 pages) which was issued on findings.

Plant20 healthJanuary (Phytophthora2022 pluvialis)and applies to parts of Cumbria. The Demarcated Area No.16 (PDF, 479 KB, 1 page) covers parts of Cumbria within the boundaries shown in the demarcated area notices

and within the Phytophthora pluvalis Notice No. 16 (PDF, 244 KB, 5 pages), which also contains a description of the boundary.

Herefordshire

EffectiveDemarcated from WednesdayArea 4 MarchNo.17 2026, the following notices introduced byNotice comes into force on 24 January 2023 replacing the Forestry Phytophthora Commission underpluvalis powersNotice conferredNo.9 by (PDF, 357 KB, 4 pages) which was issued on 25 February 2022 and applied to parts of Herefordshire. The Official Demarcated ControlsArea (PlantNo.17 (PDF, Health357 KB, 1 page) covers parts of Herefordshire within the boundaries shown in the demarcated area and Geneticallywithin Modifiedthe Organisms) (England)Phytophthora Regulationspluvalis 2019 haveNotice beenNo. revoked:17 (PDF, 331 KB, 4 pages) which also contains a description of the boundary.

• Cornwall

  A andcorresponding Devon –Demarcated TheArea PlantNotice Healthhas (Phytophthora pluvialis)been (Demarcatedissued in Wales for this outbreak site.

  Surrey

  Demarcated Area No. 15)No.18 Notice madeNotice comes into force on 1724 January 2023

replacing
• Cumbria –Phytophthora Thepluvalis PlantNotice HealthNo. (Phytophthora pluvialis)13 (PDF, (Demarcated281 AreaKB, No. 16)4 Notice madepages) which was issued on 179 JanuaryJune 2023
• Herefordshire –2022 Theand Plantapplied Healthto (Phytophthora pluvialis)parts (Demarcatedof Surrey. The Demarcated Area No. 17)No.18 (PDF, Notice made1.57 onMB, 171 Januarypage) 2023
covers parts of Surrey within the boundaries shown in the demarcated area and within the
• Surrey – The PlantPhytophthora Healthpluvalis (Phytophthora pluvialis)Notice (DemarcatedNo. Area18 (PDF, No. 18)277 Notice madeKB, 4 pages), which also contains a description of the boundary.

  Gloucestershire

  Demarcated area No. 19 comes in to force on 1724 January 2023

and applies to parts of Gloucestershire, replacing the
• Gloucestershire –Phytophthora Thepluvalis PlantNotice Healthno. (Phytophthora pluvialis)12 (PDF, (Demarcated267 AreaKB, No. 19)4 Notice madepages) which was issued on 1714 JanuaryApril 2023
• Shropshire2022 – Theand Plantapplied Healthto (Phytophthora pluvialis)parts (Demarcatedof Gloucestershire. The Demarcated Area No. 20)No. Notice made19 (PDF, on1.86 17MB, January1 2023

Shropshire

Demarcated area No. 20 comes into force on 24 January 2023 replacing

Phytophthora pluvialispluvalis noticeNotice 4No. March 202614

(PDF, 83.7329 KB, 15 pagepages

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RequestDemarcated anArea accessibleNo.20 (PDF, format. 1.42 MB

, 1 page) covers parts of Shropshire within the boundaries shown in the demarcated area within the  Phytophthora pluvalis Notice No. 20

If(PDF, you309 useKB, assistive6 technologypages) (suchwhich asalso contains a screendescription reader)of the boundary.

The Notices prohibit the movement of any plants for planting of the genus Tsuga, Pseudotsuga, Pinus and needNotholithocarpus, athat versionhave originated or are residing within the demarcated area.

Provision is made within the Notices to enable plant health inspectors to authorise movements of material from the demarcated area where this documentcan inbe aachieved morewithout accessiblerisking format,the spread of Phytophthora pluvialis.

You must provide notice and can request an authorisation for any movement of plants for planting within the demarcated areas - please contact your local APHA inspector or email grnationalteam@forestrycommission.gov.ukyour query to planthealth.info@apha.gov.uk.

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