What is Phytophthora pluvialis?
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. 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 Douglas-fir trees. Following extensive surveillance, further outbreaks have been found in Cornwall, Devon, Cumbria and in Scotland.
Symptoms
Phytophthora pluvialis is known to cause needle cast, shoot dieback, and lesions on the stem, branches, and roots.
Read the symptom guide, which illustrates some of the symptomatic trees from which Phytophthora pluvialis has been detected in the UK.
Reporting sightings
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 Treecheck, the all-Ireland tree pest reporting tool.
The Plant Health (Phytophthora pluvialis) Demarcated Area Notices
A risk assessment has been carried out by the UK Plant Health Risk Group, which has concluded that Phytophthora pluvialis meets the criteria to be classified as a GB quarantine pest for regulatory purposes. To protect the country against this disease, under power conferred by The Plant Health (Official Controls and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Regulations 2019 Scottish Forestry will introduce demarcated areas around confirmed outbreak sites, and have introduced movement restrictions on materials capable of spreading the disease using ‘Scotland Demarcated Areas’ Notices.
- The Plant Health (Phytophthora pluvialis) (Scotland Demarcated Area No. 1) - Notice comes into force on 15 December 2021 and applies to an area around Loch Carron, north of Kyle of Lochalsh. The notice contains a description of the boundary. The notice contains a description of the boundary. View the boundary.
These notices prohibit the movement of any wood, isolated bark and trees (including live trees, felled or fallen trees, fruit, seeds, leaves or foliage) of the genus Tsuga, Pseudotsuga, Pinus and Notholithocarpus, that has originated within the demarcated area.
Provision is made within the notices to enable plant health inspectors to authorise movements and processing of material from the demarcated area where this can be achieved without risking the spread of Phytophthora pluvialis.
Notices now also include an additional restriction on the felling of susceptible material within the demarcated areas, unless Scottish Forestry has been notified in writing in advance.
How to request an authorisation
You can request an authorisation for:
- notifications in advance of the intention to fell any relevant susceptible material within the demarcated area, or the intention to move any relevant susceptible material out of or within the demarcated area can be made to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..