Please help identify why my hedge looks dead

[suavegarve]

Hello. Would anyone be able to identify what has made my hedge look dead please. Not sure that it's Honey Fungus. Seemed to happen very quickly. Thanks. 

[Steve Bullman]

Can’t make out the variety?

 

also pictures of the entire area around the hedge will be helpful to get an idea of the site and potential causes 

[suavegarve]

Here's a picture of the area and a shot of the last few healthy leaves to help identify hopefully. 

[Stere]

Box blight?

[Paul in the woods]

Box tree caterpillar, Cydalima perspectalis. If you google for box tree caterpillar damage you'll find very similar looking damage.

 

Box tree caterpillar

WWW.RHS.ORG.UK

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<p>Box tree caterpillars feed within webbing and can completely defoliate box plants. It is a relatively new insect...

 

[suavegarve]

Thanks for the amazingly quick responses regarding box caterpillar. Took a closer look and found this beast. Let the battle commence. 

[JSN]

Just putting this out there…..

If it were mine, or if I was advising a client, I think I’d be inclined to take the hedge out altogether and replant with a different species.  
You could try and eradicate the caterpillars, but they’re obviously in your area - so they will come back, you won’t get them all - so your hedge will always be declining and scabby, and it will be a constant battle to maintain a poor hedge.  Plus applying noxious chemicals into the wider environment isn’t good. 
Alternatively, you could plant a new hedge this autumn and spend the next few years watching it come into fruition and maturity. 
The first option is negative, time consuming and involves nasty chemicals.  The second, whilst initially drastic, is positive and ultimately rewarding. 

[Rough Hewn]

Burn it.
[emoji106]

[spudulike]

1 hour ago, Rough Hewn said:

Burn it.

A bit harsh, he was only asking about his hedge

[benedmonds]

I am sure I heard someone on the radio recently possibly gqt who recommended replacing box with plastic plants as box is so difficult to keep alive these days..