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Opal tree health introduction
- 2. • Improve distribution data for tree pests and diseases • Monitor how pests and diseases spread • Understand the characteristics of trees that are at risk • Public engagement assists with surveillance
- 3. Previous OPAL Surveys: The Tree Health Survey: Soil and Earthworm Air Biodiversity Water Climate Bugs Count
- 4. • Activity 1: Get to know your tree. • Activity 2: Pests and diseases on oak, ash and horse chestnut. • Activity 3: Most Unwanted.
- 5. • Check the website • Read the instructions • Landowners permission • Health and safety http://www.opalexplorenature.org
- 7. All the equipment that you need is in the pack, which contains: Field Notebook Field Guide Fold Out Tree Guide Most Unwanted Guide Tape Measure Optional Equipment: Camera OS Maps or GPS Smart Phone Pencil
- 9. Activity 1 can be carried out on any tree, but preferably on Oak, Ash or Horse Chestnut.
- 10. This activity can be done on Oak, Ash or Horse Chestnut only. • Ideally survey the same tree as used in Activity 1 • Use the field guide to identify whether your tree has any of the four pests/diseases of your chosen tree species or for more information visit: http://www.opalexplorenature.org/tree-health-training Please take a photo if you think you identify any of the pests/diseases on your tree
- 11. This part of the survey can be done on any tree, and at any time • Results can be submitted independently of the rest of the survey • Use Most Unwanted guide to help with identification • Health and safety • Bio-security guidance Take a photo of the Most Unwanted and submit via the OPAL website or the Tree Alert App/ webpage… http://www.forestry.gov.uk
- 12. • Submit via the OPAL website or freepost address • Activity 1, 2 and 3 results can be submitted independently • Photos • Record your location accurately It’s really important that you send us your results once you have done the survey.
- 13. Thank you… Questions? Photos courtesy of Forest Research and Fera
Editor's Notes
- Additional Notes:Welcome to the Tree Health Survey Training session.House keeping notices for venue.General information on this presentation:Each slide is accompanied with notes to augment the information presented. These are split up into Slide Comments (information to be given to the audience), Image Details (If you or the audience would like to know what they are showing) and Additional Notes (Background information for the presenter).Photographs are sourced from Forest Research, Forestry Commission or Fera. Known photographers are documented in the notes section.! Please note that the OPAL magnifying glass indicates the identifying features of the pest / disease and the blue box indicates the presence in the UK. Red boxes will indicate where there is risk to human health.
- Slide Comments:The training structure.Introduction to UK forests and Tree HealthThe Value of Trees Tree HealthThe OPAL SurveyPests and DiseasesIntroduction Why Study These Pests and Diseases?Specific Pests and DiseasesConducting the surveyBefore You Start How to do the ActivitiesSubmitting Data and ResultsPractical TrainingExplore outsideTimings and breaks…
- Slide Comments:Right at the start of the survey there are some questions asking for details of the person undertaking the survey. We are collecting some background information to help us assess the level of confidence we might have in the data. All data is important and will be used, but this information enables us to give stronger weight to results collected by those likely to be more accurate… This information also helps us understand the reach of our surveys and who is taking part.Activity 1 can be carried out on any tree, but preferably on oak, ash or horse chestnut, as this will allow you to do the full survey on one tree, and will give us a really good picture of your tree’s health.A: Site information – We want people to be as specific as possible about location. GPS is ideal. Exact trees can be pin-pointed when entering the date on our website using google maps. We also want to know what the survey area is like, and what the ground beneath the tree is covered with, as this will help us understand possible disturbance and root damage to the tree (e.g. concrete may restrict the roots, bare soil could indicate ploughing which can damage roots). Fallen leaves are important, as fungal diseases may spread from infected leaves. This data will help us see if there are patterns between site characteristics and the spread of particular pests and diseases.B: Identify your tree, using the fold out tree guide. We are encouraging people to take a photo of their tree and submit this with their results. There will be a gallery of people’s trees on the OPAL website.C: Tree Characteristics: record its girth and height (there will also be a facility on the OPAL website to estimate your tree’s age). This gives us some background info on the age and condition of the tree you are surveying and its dominance in the landscape (i.e. in relation to other trees). These are also nice, fun activities to ease people into the survey and to familiarise themselves with the tree.D: Tree Crown – section C gets you to make observations on the condition of the tree’s crown…this includes crown shape, crown density and whether there are any dead branches in the crown. For Question 13 use the crown density card in your pack, stand under the tree crown and look up to estimate the crown density. This gives us information as to whether there is any defoliation or die-back in the crown. (Defoliation is where the leaves have died, dieback is where the twigs have died so the whole branch looks bare). Question 14 asks you to look at the crown to see if there is any dead wood in the crown (i.e. branches without leaves OR twigs)E: Leaves – section E gets you to make observations about the leaves, (leaf yellowing, browning and leaf damage) – leaf browning can be caused by many different factors including insect damage and sea salt. Leaf yellowing is often a sign of a longer term issue and can indicate root damage. You are also asked to look for signs of any insect damage on the leaves of the tree.F: Wildlife – It is important that people are aware of the biodiversity value of trees (and that old trees with deadwood, cracks, splits and hollows are very valuable for wildlife). As you talked about earlier, dying is a natural part of a trees life cycle. Epiphytes and other things growing on a tree can enhance wildlife value. Section F gets you to look for signs of other wildlife or possible habitats for wildlife, on your tree.
- Slide Comments:Consider the weather.Don’t carry out the survey in high windsParticipants need to be appropriately dressed and shod.Don’t work aloneCheck the area for signs of danger:Look up: Check trees for broken branches that might fall and for low hanging twigs and branchesLook down: check the ground for obstacles, prickly or stinging plants. Don’t survey at the edge of a lake or riverLook out for other site users, if forestry operations or hedge trimming is going on choose another site.We need to consider our own biosecurity. If you are surveying at more than one site, you need to clean your shoes between sites, otherwise clean your shoes when you get home.
- Slide Comments:Field NotebookTakes you through the survey and is where you write down your findings.There is an additional table at the back for recording results for more trees if you decide to survey more than one.NB – additional recording sheets available to download from the OPAL website if you want to record data for more than three trees.Field ID Guide Gives s additional information on pests and diseases Has instructions for measuring crown transparency and tree heightMost unwanted Gives details on serious pests and diseases, this can be used as a stand-alone activity, particularly for people who are regularly in the field.A2 Fold-out Tree GuideTape measureA 3-5m tape is sufficient to measure most trees.ChalkA camera pictures will help confirm your records of pests and diseasesA map or GPS Smart Phoneto give a grid reference for your site,to use the Tree Health Survey Appto record a sighting of one of the most wanted on the ‘TreeA!ert’ App
- Slide Comments:The fold out id guide has a key on one side together with an explanation of the terms it uses and on the other side pictures that you can use to confirm or check your id, there are also species profiles of our target species.The guide isn’t complete – particularly if you are working in parks or gardens there may be ornamental species that you won’t be able to identify from it. Tips for identifying trees:Tips for our target species:Check the ground, there may be acorns/cups or conkers/casings or ash keysleaves from last year.Oak and ash are common woodland and hedgerow trees, horse chestnut tends to be found as a planted parkland or wayside tree.Oak: has simple lobed leaves, pinate (with the veins coming from different points from a central vein)Ash – has compound leaves with pairs of untoothed leaflets. The leaves are paired on the twigs, unlike rowan which it might be mistaken for. The twigs are grey with black buds that look like little hooves.Horse chestnut – has compound palmate leaves with leaflets all coming from one point. The buds are big, shiny brown and sticky.
- Slide Comments:Right at the start of the survey there are some questions asking for details of the person undertaking the survey. We are collecting some background information to help us assess the level of confidence we might have in the data. All data is important and will be used, but this information enables us to give stronger weight to results collected by those likely to be more accurate… This information also helps us understand the reach of our surveys and who is taking part.Activity 1 can be carried out on any tree, but preferably on oak, ash or horse chestnut, as this will allow you to do the full survey on one tree, and will give us a really good picture of your tree’s health.A: Site information – We want people to be as specific as possible about location. GPS is ideal. Exact trees can be pin-pointed when entering the date on our website using google maps. We also want to know what the survey area is like, and what the ground beneath the tree is covered with, as this will help us understand possible disturbance and root damage to the tree (e.g. concrete may restrict the roots, bare soil could indicate ploughing which can damage roots). Fallen leaves are important, as fungal diseases may spread from infected leaves. This data will help us see if there are patterns between site characteristics and the spread of particular pests and diseases.B: Identify your tree, using the fold out tree guide. We are encouraging people to take a photo of their tree and submit this with their results. There will be a gallery of people’s trees on the OPAL website.C: Tree Characteristics: record its girth and height (there will also be a facility on the OPAL website to estimate your tree’s age). This gives us some background info on the age and condition of the tree you are surveying and its dominance in the landscape (i.e. in relation to other trees). These are also nice, fun activities to ease people into the survey and to familiarise themselves with the tree.D: Tree Crown – section C gets you to make observations on the condition of the tree’s crown…this includes crown shape, crown density and whether there are any dead branches in the crown. For Question 13 use the crown density card in your pack, stand under the tree crown and look up to estimate the crown density. This gives us information as to whether there is any defoliation or die-back in the crown. (Defoliation is where the leaves have died, dieback is where the twigs have died so the whole branch looks bare). Question 14 asks you to look at the crown to see if there is any dead wood in the crown (i.e. branches without leaves OR twigs)E: Leaves – section E gets you to make observations about the leaves, (leaf yellowing, browning and leaf damage) – leaf browning can be caused by many different factors including insect damage and sea salt. Leaf yellowing is often a sign of a longer term issue and can indicate root damage. You are also asked to look for signs of any insect damage on the leaves of the tree.F: Wildlife – It is important that people are aware of the biodiversity value of trees (and that old trees with deadwood, cracks, splits and hollows are very valuable for wildlife). As you talked about earlier, dying is a natural part of a trees life cycle. Epiphytes and other things growing on a tree can enhance wildlife value. Section F gets you to look for signs of other wildlife or possible habitats for wildlife, on your tree.
- Slide Comments:Stress the importance of photos so that any sightings can be confirmed.
- Slide Comments:Stress here that it is vital they take a photo if they think they have spotted a ‘Most Unwanted’ pest or disease.People are unlikely to find most of these in their surveying – some are not yet present in the UK, but are serious so we want to make sure that if they do arrive we are able to spot them straight away. If you do think you spot one of the ‘Most Unwanted’ then it is vital you notify government officials so that the right action can be taken. You should:If you think you see one of the Most Unwanted, make sure you take a photo and submit this via the OPAL website or the Tree Alert App/ webpage…(try to get a good shot – if needed take several until you have a good one).Alert the Forestry Commission directly (through Tree A!ert App or by phoning the helpline numbers on the ‘Most Unwanted’ guideSubmit your siting through the OPAL websiteRemember there is additional info to help you identify your siting on the OPAL website and also the Forestry Commission website. If in doubt, send in your photo so an expert can verify it!NB if you think you see one of the longhorn beetles but don’t know whether it is the Asian Longhorn or Citrus Longhorn, please submit it as either as action will be required for both.It is a legal requirement that sitings of the ‘Most Unwanted’ are reported, and photos are imperative to confirm the siting. When submitting a siting, the recorder will be asked to provide contact details (part of the legal requirement for reporting one of these pests or diseases), because it is important that the relevant authority is able to follow it up.
- Slide Comments:Participants will get instant feedback on the results map.This data will be sent through to OPAL and Forest Research who will analyse the data.Results can be submitted via the OPAL websiteA freepost address is also available for those without internet accessResults for Activity 1, 2 and 3 can be submitted separatelyPhotos can be uploaded with the results (maximum of 3)Try to record your location as accurately as possible, in case we need to trace the tree you surveyed…