Farming News - Forestry Commission extends Sweet Chestnut Blight demarcated area following further outbreaks
News
Forestry Commission extends Sweet Chestnut Blight demarcated area following further outbreaks
*Trade restrictions to prevent Sweet Chestnut Blight are extended in Devon, and the area will now include a small part of Cornwall
*Restrictions on sweet chestnut trees and other susceptible material will apply across the expanded area to help prevent further spread
*Public urged to remain vigilant and report suspected findings through TreeAlert
The Forestry Commission is urging woodland owners, land managers and members of the public to remain vigilant for signs of the disease and to report any suspected findings through the TreeAlert portal.
Defra Chief Plant Health Officer Professor Nicola Spence said:
"The risk of Sweet Chestnut Blight spreading has increased significantly in parts of the South West. Extending the demarcated area is a necessary step to help protect sweet chestnut trees.
I would urge anyone who owns or works with sweet chestnut trees to remain vigilant and report signs of disease through TreeAlert."
Forestry Commission Head of Plant Health Forestry Andrea Deol said:
"Restricting the movement of susceptible material is one of the most effective tools we have to slow the spread of this disease.
"We would encourage the public to check their sweet chestnut trees and support the Check a Sweet Chestnut campaign. The compliance and cooperation we have already seen from forestry and trades has played a significant role in supporting our efforts so far."
The Check a Sweet Chestnut campaign, run in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society and Forest Research, encourages the public to identify and report signs of the disease.
*Restrictions on sweet chestnut trees and other susceptible material will apply across the expanded area to help prevent further spread
*Public urged to remain vigilant and report suspected findings through TreeAlert
The Forestry Commission has yesterday (Wednesday 19 August) announced an extension to the demarcated area for Sweet C zone boundary. The new area will come into force on Wednesday 26 August.
The expanded area subject to restrictions will now include West Devon District and South East Cornwall constituency. The extension follows continued surveillance work, which has confirmed additional infected sites with buffer zones that extend beyond the current area boundary.
Trading restrictions on sweet chestnut trees and other susceptible material will apply across the expanded area, to help prevent the further spread of this fungal disease through the movement of infected plants and material, and to help disease management efforts.
A Sweet Chestnut Blight finding in October 2025 marked the first occurrence of the disease with sexual sporulation present since 2011. The additional outbreak sites identified through recent surveillance also show evidence of sexual sporulation, meaning an increased number of airborne spores are being produced. This significantly raises the risk of the disease spreading further afield.
Defra Chief Plant Health Officer Professor Nicola Spence said:
"The risk of Sweet Chestnut Blight spreading has increased significantly in parts of the South West. Extending the demarcated area is a necessary step to help protect sweet chestnut trees.
I would urge anyone who owns or works with sweet chestnut trees to remain vigilant and report signs of disease through TreeAlert."
Forestry Commission Head of Plant Health Forestry Andrea Deol said:
"Restricting the movement of susceptible material is one of the most effective tools we have to slow the spread of this disease.
"We would encourage the public to check their sweet chestnut trees and support the Check a Sweet Chestnut campaign. The compliance and cooperation we have already seen from forestry and trades has played a significant role in supporting our efforts so far."
The Check a Sweet Chestnut campaign, run in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society and Forest Research, encourages the public to identify and report signs of the disease.