Scottish Forestry will impose movement restrictions after the discovery of the fungus-like pathogen Phytophthora pluvialis near loch Carron in the north west of Scotland. A demarcated area around the infected site will be introduced to help avoid accidental pathogen spread.

P. pluvialis is known to affect a variety of tree species, including Western Hemlock, Douglas fir, tanock and several pine species (in particular radiata pine). It can cause needle cast (where needles turn brown and fall off), shoot dieback and lesions on the stem, branches and roots.

P. pluvialis has never been detected in Europe before, and was found for the first time in the UK in 2021 in Devon, Cornwall and Cumbria in England, and now near Loch Carron in Scotland.

For further information, please go to the Scottish Forestry news release, where you will find links to a P. pluvialis symptom guide, and a link to Tree Alert for reporting suspect trees.