Observatree Blog

Blog

Host of the month - Oak

Matt Parratt discusses Oak (Quercus species) and Acute oak decline. 

Matt Parratt  •  20 Mar 2025

Blog

Observatree volunteer’s role in helping to develop the new TreeAlert Report Dashboard

TreeAlert's system manager Lucy Turner explains the helpful role that our Observatree volunteer's play in developing the TreeAlert system, most recently with the new Report Dashboard. 

Lucy Turner  •  27 Feb 2025

Blog

Host of the month - Birch

This month Matt Parratt takes a look at Birch trees (Betula species) and their associated bronze birch borer.

Matt Parratt  •  20 Feb 2025

Blog

TreeAlert Demystified: What happens when you submit a report?

A question that the Tree Health Diagnostic and Advisory Service team are often asked is, ‘What happens when I send in a TreeAlert enquiry, how does it all work?’  Here, Chris Berman, entomology diagnostician at Forest Research, pulls back the curtain on what goes on behind the scenes!

Chris Berman  •  23 Jan 2025

Blog

Host of the month - Lawson cypress

This month Matt looks at at Lawson cypress (Cupressus lawsoniana) and its associated pathogen, Phytophthora lateralis.

Matt Parratt  •  22 Jan 2025

Blog

Host of the month - Spruce

For December, Matt Parratt looks at Spruce (Picea species) and the Great spruce bark beetle.

Matt Parratt  •  19 Dec 2024

Blog

Defining Tree Health

Matt Parratt offers an explanation of how to define tree health in the context of Observatree. 

Matt Parratt  •  21 Nov 2024

Blog

Host of the month - Ash

Matt Parratt highlights Common ash (Fraxinus excelsior), the well-known ash dieback disease and its associated pest, Emerald ash borer. 

Matt Parratt  •  14 Nov 2024

Blog

Host of the month - Sweet chestnut

Matt Parratt discusses Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) and its associated pest: the Oriental chestnut gall wasp, and its associated disease: Sweet chestnut blight.

Matt Parratt  •  17 Oct 2024

Blog

Host of the month - Maple

This month Matt Parratt looks at Maples (Sapindaceae family), Asian longhorn beetle and Citrus longhorn beetle. 

Matt Parratt  •  19 Sep 2024