Replacing gorse with something else

[nepia]

A random small patch on Ashdown Forest this morning.  It's not as bad as the stuff nearer the sea or beside the main road that I mentioned earlier but it's not great is it given that it's the end of May; I've seen healthier and more floriferous gorse in December!

[spudulike]

I am recently back from two weeks at Winterton on Sea and we noted that the Gorse there was really suffering. We thought it may be the very dry and cold April, It all looked near dead, dry and brown but the broom looked much better.

Seemed pretty widespread in that area....very strange.

[youngsbury]

Same at mundesley cliff top today walking to Cromer with the gorse looking very dry and patchy and the broom looking healthy. 

[nepia]

Well like a dog with a bone I wouldn't let it go so I asked the Conservators of Ashdown Forest what was up with their gorse.

It seems that gorse dieback is a thing; it's been reported from far and wide. The Animal and Plant Health Agency have had a look and can find no pathogen.

The spring weather being responsible has been suggested but apparently the problem has been reported from all quarters, including those that didn't have a harsh spring.  That said gorse is known to be vulnerable to frost (a new one on me) but even within a locale damage is patchy and follows no pattern.

Natural England say there is nothing to suggest the issue is anything other than abiotic, i.e. doesn't involve a pathogen, but they can't help further.

In short 'we know the gorse is suffering but we don't know why'.

Edited June 4, 2021 by nepia

[scbk]

Very little green to be seen on the gorse round here, the bushes are entirely yellow! (well sort of amber)

It seems to be a bumper year for gorse flowers. Lovely smell wafting round the countryside 

[openspaceman]

11 hours ago, scbk said:

Lovely smell wafting round the countryside 

I often wonder if the first people in England to smell coconut said if smelled like gorse bloom?