Are our Beeches Dying?

 Up the hill to Ewelease Dairy this afternoon.  Cow Parsley is now in full bloom on both sides of the bridleway, punctuated by frequent patches of Red Campion and occasional  bits of Garlic Mustard. This latter is the food plant of the Orange Tip butterfly, which has frequently appeared in the village in recent weeks, and should have the round, yellow eggs on it. I haven't been able to find any so far, perhaps I need a magnifying glass.

Our three commonest ferns,  Hart's Tongue, Male Fern and Soft Shield Fern are now unrolled from their tight spirals, but the mystery is why they only proliferate on the left hand side going up. 

Disturbing though is the sight of the Beech trees on the lower part of the hill, where the leaves are turning brown and dying (necrosis).

Leaf necrosis on Beech Tree. Photo. John Elliott

Leaf necrosis is a symptom of a plant damaging oomycete (water mold), Phytophthera kernoviae,which was found in Cornwall in 2003 and has been making its way east ever since.It is known to have reached Devon and South Wales. Has it now reached Dorset?

These beech trees were planted in the late 70s by the Cub Scouts led by Akela, Maurine Marchant. It would be a great pity to loose them.