Christmas Trees Suffer From Fungus

24/08/2007

Corsican pine trees across the country are being destroyed by a fungus. This year’s wet summer has created ideal conditions for red band needle blight. This could mean a shortage of trees for Christmas party decorations and the Christmas season.

A spokesman for the Forestry Commission said it had taken the decision not to plant any more Corsican pine trees because of the blight.

Tree experts are dismissing fears that the blight will cause a Christmas tree shortage and affect Christmas party decorations and the Christmas season.

Stephen Smith, the commission's assistant operations manager for England, said: “Unfortunately, it appears that red band needle blight could be here to stay.

“The worst affected area is the East of England, where more than 70 percent of Corsican pine trees are thought to be infected.

People expecting to use a Christmas tree to add decoration to a Christmas party or home this year, should not worry.

A spokesman for the British Christmas Tree Growers' Association said 95 percent of the trees sold in this country were not pine, and the disease only affected pines.

Forestry officials will begin to plant the Corsican pine in five years after the impact of the blight was assessed.

The organisation recently announced that non-native conifers would be replaced by native broadleaf trees in forestry in the east of Suffolk, from Dunwich to Rendlesham, as they are harvested over the next few years. These trees are also traditionally used to decorate homes during the Christmas season and for a Christmas party.