The “sudden oak death” disease has been discovered in a seventh location in Northern Ireland.
Tree disease Phytophthora ramorum was found in Japanese larches at Glenariff Forest Park in County Antrim following an aerial survey.
The Northern Ireland Forest Service expects to clear up to 150,000 trees across a total of about 270ha in a process taking months.
Officials have implemented bio-security measures at the new sites to prevent the spread of infection. This includes
The disease has also affected a wide area in England, particularly the southwest, and Wales, while the first infected site in Scotland was discovered earlier this month.
