P.ramorum / Rhododendron and other host control

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Been asked to clear some R.Ponticum which as you know is #1 public enemy at the mo in p.ramorum host terms.

 

Now I know I sure as hell can't chip it so must burn it right? Point is I can't burn it on site (smokeless zone etc) so will have to transport it for burning. I have two options - bonfire or specialised incineration - any views on this?

 

Ta.

 

 

Should have gone on that course some months ago silly boy

Edited July 21, 2010 by TimberCutterDartmoor

[Arbgirl]

Forestry Commission - Plant Health - Sudden oak death - phytophthora alert

 

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pramorum

 

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/phytophthoraprotocol30apr2010.pdf/$FILE/phytophthoraprotocol30apr2010.pdf

 

BBC News - Trees felled in Devon and Cornwall amid disease fears

 

These will give you some useful pointers about the problem!

[Arbgirl]

Forestry Commission - plant health - p ramorum in south west england

 

Also see this

 

You'll need a special licence to take any off site - speak to the Forestry Commission

 

Looks like there may be a chance help with the cost of removal for the owner

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Been through all that and can only pick out a mention of burning or deep burial. My main issue is a) transportation and b) destruction protocol... i.e I would rather incinerate at 1000 degrees C instead of bonfire at lower temps and risk speading spores etc etc etc.

[porky]

Why not give the EA a ring see what they suggest?

[Arbgirl]

I think the Forestry Commission are the ones in charge of disease control

 

If burnt it looks like it must be at special waste incineration plants - P.ramorum is rife in the Plym valley at the moment with thousands of larch being felled - they must be debarked before transportation by the looks of it, and require a licence from the Forestry Commission before they can be transported

 

I would speak to the Forestry Commission dedicated staff about how you can legally go about getting rid of it

 

I have the same problem at the moment - we will be working on a site on Exmoor where P.ramorum is confirmed (in larch plantation, all of which is to be removed)- so we will have to go through all the boot washing and spraying/tool sterilisation etc after each work day - which will add extra costs and require extra time to take all the disease reductions measures required by the Forestry Commission. As my workers work at many different sites - good disease prevention measures are imperative - as we would not want to spread the disease to other woods we work in....

 

Contact at Forestry Commission for the SW

 

Forestry Commission’s South West England office at Mamhead Castle, Mamhead, Nr Exeter, Devon EX6 8HD. Tel: 01626 890666; fax 01626 891118; email: [email protected]

[Arbgirl]

Forestry Commission - plant health - P ramorum in South West England

 

 

Just found this bit too - might be useful?

 

I still think you need to speak to the FC as you cant go ahead without the licence and they will be able to give you helpful advice and information on what you can and cant do..

[renewablejohn]

Does anybody know what temperature the spores will be destroyed at. Just wondering whether our torrefication process at 230C would be sufficiently high to destroy the spores. If it is then we could sterilize the wood on site and produce an exportable clean fuel product.

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

 

If burnt it looks like it must be at special waste incineration plants - P.ramorum is rife in the Plym valley at the moment with thousands of larch being felled - they must be debarked before transportation by the looks of it, and require a licence from the Forestry Commission before they can be transported

 

I live practically IN Cann Wood - the Plym Valley woods you speak of. The FC are not forthcoming re burning other than saying that it must BE burnt!