Guidance

Report a tree or plant pest or disease

HowFind out when and how to report a notifiable tree pest or plantdisease pestin orthe disease.UK, and information on services such as Tree Alert, TreeCheck and Observatree.

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Some

Understand which tree andpests plantor diseases are notifiable

Some tree pests and diseases are notifiable, which means thatthat, youin England, they must reportbe themreported to the Forestry Commission or the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)(APHA)..

Notifiable tree and plant pests and diseases are the ones that have the potential to cause the greatest damage to our trees, woods and forests.

Anyone can report a notifiable pest or disease,disease. includingReports from the generalpublic public.

Reportare avaluable. treeThey pestsupplement orthe disease

Forestry Commission’s annual surveys.

ReportThe preferred way to make a treereport is with Tree Alert, the online pest orand disease usingreporting thetool. treeNote alertthat serviceTree Alert requires you to upload good quality photographs.

Commercial locations

ForYou treecan use Tree Alert to report suspected pests and diseases infound commericalanywhere locations,in likethe nurseries,UK. sendReports yourfrom reportScotland toand APHA.

ReportWales awill plantbe pestpassed orto disease

EnglandScottish Forestry and Natural Resources Wales

for follow-up.

Scotland

SendNote yourthat reportreports of tree pests and diseases in trade locations, such as nurseries, should be reported to SASAthe (ScienceAnimal and AdvicePlant forHealth ScottishAgency Agriculture)(APHA).

What happensto nextexpect if you make a report

The report will be acknowledged and you may be contacted again if further detail is required. If a notifiable pest or disease is confirmed, the Forestry Commission’s response will be one of the following:

  • plot the location so it can inform local tree and woodland managers of its presence, and advise them how best to manage it
  • take action to prevent or minimise spread of the pest or disease to other areas
  • take action to eradicate the pest or disease before it can become established and spread

What to include in your report

Contact APHA to report a suspected pest or disease

Include in your email:

  • your full name and address, including postcode
  • your telephone number and the times we can contact you
  • the name of the suspected plant pest or disease, if you know it
  • the type of plant that’s affected
  • the plant’s location, for example, nursery, woodland, private garden, commercial premises
  • whether the plant has been recently planted or moved
  • whether other plants in the location have been affected
  • if the report relates to an insect, whether it is dead or alive and whether you’ve captured it
  • relevant photographs

Get involved in monitoring tree health

Visit Observatree if you would like more information about monitoring the health of the UK’s trees. You can only join Observatree if you’re selected to do so but you’ll find a range of helpful resources available on their website.

Updates to this page

Published 26 September 2018
Last updated 324 SeptemberFebruary 2026 href="#full-history">+ Showshow all updates
  1. The email address planthealth.info@apha.gov.uk is no longer in use. We have added a link to the online form for reporting plant pests and diseases in England and Wales.

  2. Removed the tree pests and diseases downloadable matrix as it is out of date.

  3. Added information about what to include in an email report

  4. First published.

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