The fungus behind sudden oak death, or SOD, Phytophthora ramorum, is a new disease outbreak, first recorded in the early 1990's.

In America, it has had a potent effect on their local Oaks (Quercus group). In Europe, Phytophthora ramorum mainly attacks other unrelated plants, especially:

• Rhodedendron.
• Camellia.
• Peiris.
• Larch.
• Ornamental viburnums like bodnantense and tinus.

Native British oaks do not seem to be very susceptible. Symptoms of Sudden Oak Death: It can produce cankers that ooze a black liquid. It can cause leaves to turn brown and die in a spreading patch from the edge. You can read more about identifying and reporting it here. Is Sudden Oak Death a major concern in the UK? Yes. Charlton Clark of the Forestry Commission described the area of British trees that have recently been cut down & which will soon be cut down as being enough to fill 4,400 football pitches. The estimate is that 4 million trees will be cut down. Individual trees are being removed in large numbers and Larch forests of up to 50, 000 trees are being cut down. Why can you do about it? If you spot it, you can report it to FERA, or the Forestry Commission if the trees are in a public wood. Are there any Canadian songs about sudden oak death? Yes.