John Howell MP

25 JAN 2012

Fears for local oak trees

Fears have been raised that oak woodland in the Henley constituency could soon be attacked by the Oak Processionary Moth. Its caterpillar attacks the leaves of oak trees and is a major source of leaf loss. The pest has spread widely in London, where it was only recently first discovered in the UK, and has proved difficult to control. The moth is native to central and souhthern Europe but has spread north as far as Sweden arguably as a result of global warming. The caterpillars of the moth are covered with irritating hairs which contain toxins which can lead to skin irritation and allergic reactions in humans including respiratory problems.

The moth has already reached Pangbourne and has spread over an area of a kilometre around the village. Local MP, Alok Sharma, (Reading West) took up the challenge of dealing with this problem and sought my support and other local MPs in raising this issue with DEFRA Minister, Jim Paice and the Forestry Commission.

I am grateful to Alok Sharma for alerting us all to the problems this moth causes. The area in this constituency which is currently most at risk is Whitchurch due to its proximity to Pangbourne. A key priority therefore was to make sure that a large area centred on Whitchurch was properly surveyed to identify if the moth is present and where. I am pleased that the Whitchurch area will now as a result be included in the survey work being undertaken by the Forestry Commission in June this year.

The meeting with the Minister reviewed the spread of the pest and its impact, including the financial impact on property owners. Property owners will still be responsible for treating infected trees in 2012 – and possibly neighbouring trees if these are considered at risk. It also reviewed plans to eradicate the pest with further treatment of infected trees in spring 2012.

A key part of the programme of eradication is to understand which trees are infected and how extensive the spread of the moth has become. Although Whitchurch was not originally a priority for the Forestry Commission's programme because it was considered to be too far from the Pangbourne outbreak, as a result of our lobbying the area will now be surveyed. It is essential to me to ensure that this pest does not cross the river. I am glad that the Forestry Commission has accepted that Whitchurch should be comprehensively surveyed as early as possible.

Picture provided courtesy of the Forestry Commission

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Fears for local oak trees

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