Tree killer identified

The disease killing bilberry on Cannock Chase has finally been identified by the Food and Environment Research Agency.

The agency, formerly the Central Science Laboratory, has identified the pathogen as Phytophthora pseudosyringae. This strain of the plant infection is very rare in the UK and it appears to be the first record for this particular variety of the fungal infection in bilberry.

Work to cut and burn all infected bilberry on the Chase continues. Most of the infected areas on the open heathland have been cleared.