Dutch Elm Disease: Disease Control
(asked on 9th June 2025) - View Source
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support local authorities in protecting vulnerable trees from pests and diseases, including valuable urban trees, such as the National Elm Collection in Brighton and Hove.
Answered by
Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Local Authorities are responsible for the care and management of trees on their land. The Government has provided Local Authorities with a range of guidance to help them manage their trees and the pest and disease threats they may be facing. This includes Local Authority toolkits on Ash Dieback (which has been downloaded over 20,000 times), Oak Processionary Moth (OPM) and on developing a Trees and Woodland Strategy for their areas.
We also offer financial support for Local Authorities through the Tree Health Pilot to manage some pests and diseases. For example, a grant is available to Local Authorities in the OPM established area to help them manage the public health risk from this pest. The grant pays for the surveying of oak trees and the creation of OPM management plans and communications strategies. The Tree Health Pilot also provides financial support to help Local Authorities facilitate landowner action on ash dieback and to restock any trees lost to the disease.
The Government does not take statutory action against Dutch Elm Disease as it is widespread across most of Great Britain. We are aware of areas such as the Isle of Man, Edinburgh and Brighton & Hove where populations of mature elms are of local significance and survive as a result of local disease control programmes. Defra is prioritising investment in scientific research which aims to develop a more resistant and diverse elm population, to support the return of mature elms to the landscape nationwide.
The Government meets regularly meets with Local Authorities through specific groups such as the Tree Health and Safety Taskforce and the Tree Health Operations Forum, where they can raise tree health challenges and discuss how to effectively deal with these.