Biosecurity Kit

In order to practice simple biosecurity measures each day to help limit the spread of tree pests and diseases, it is helpful to have a biosecurity kit in your vehicle as you go about your work.

Kit Contents;

•        BOOT SCRAPER
  
•        HARD BRUSH
  
•         LONG HANDLE BRUSH
  
•         COLLAPSIBLE WATER CONTAINER
  
•          FLEXIBLE BUCKET
  
•          CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE GLOVES
  
•          CHEMICAL GOGGLES
  
•          DISPOSABLE BIOHAZARD BAGS X 100

Option Extras;

•        CLEANKILL SANITISER
  
•         PROPELLAR SANITISER & HERMETICALLY SEALED CONTAINERS
  
•         PORTABLE PRESSURE WASHER
  

ALL STORED IN A HANDY HOLDALL FOR YOUR EASE OF USE

 Time to act

In 2014/15 at least 300ha of woodland in England were felled to slow the spread of a pest or disease. A significant increase in the range of non-native pests and diseases in the UK over the past 15 years means that our woods and forests need greater protection (Forestry Commission, 2015). Human activity can accelerate the spread of tree pests and disease – from invertebrates such as moths, beetles, aphids and wasps to micro-organisms such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, phytoplasmas and water moulds such as Phytophthora. However, we can minimise their spread with good biosecurity practice.

 Think trees, think source

A sample of 732 nurseries in 18 European countries found that 91.5% had at least one species of Phytophthora. Appropriate planning and careful sourcing can minimise the amount of infected stock and ensure that only healthy trees are planted. (Jung et al., 2015)

 Clean boots, clean forests

A study in a Phytophthora control zone found that 30% of boots sampled contained infected organic material. Phytophthora can survive for more than a year in organic material, increasing the chance of it becoming established elsewhere if the material is moved. We therefore recommend cleaning boots and vehicles, because this has been shown to help minimise the number of infected trees at Phytophthora sites. (Goheen et al., 2012; Pau’Uvale et al., 2005; Webber and Rose, 2007)