Mystery disease hits Attingham Park oak trees
Oak trees at Shropshire's Attingham Park have been hit with a mystery disease which is causing them to "bleed to death".
Officials from the National Trust property at Atcham, near Shrewsbury, said acute oak decline is affecting a "small group of trees" in the site's grounds.
Two trees have been felled for research purposes, while a pathway has been cordoned off as part of attempts to stop the disease spreading.
It is the only case so far recorded in Shropshire.
The Government has set aside more than £1 million on a project to try and identify the cause of the growing national problem.
Oak trees more than 50 years old are believed to be facing the greatest threat from the mystery disease, which is identified by black weeping patches known as "stem bleeds".
DNA research is being carried out to try and identify the bacteria, with larvae from the oak jewel beetle found near infected trees.
Fiona Holman, a spokesman for Attingham Park, said: "Acute Oak Decline is affecting a small group of trees in our grounds.
"We currently know very little about the cause of this problem however, as our outdoors team carry out regular checks on the health of all of the trees in the grounds.
"We've been monitoring the situation for some time and are working alongside groups including the Forestry Commission and Defra to assist in the research into what is causing Acute Oak Decline and how it is transmitted.
"Regular visitors will have noticed that we've cordoned off a pathway through Rookery Wood as several oak trees in this vicinity have been affected.
"Primarily the closure is to protect visitors from any possible falling branches, but also to prevent people from walking through the area and potentially transporting bits of affected tree to other locations, in case we discover that the condition is something that can be transmitted through contact with affected material.
"We do not currently know how Acute Oak Decline begins or spreads.
"There is one theory that the problem may be due to a type of beetle called the Agrilus beetle – so far there has been no confirmation of this, but hopefully data collected here will help as the survey continues.
"We have also felled two oak trees for research purposes: one of which was already dead and one which was dying, in order to get samples from inside the trees to send off for analysis.
"As yet we do not know what the results of these tests are.
"It is often the case with conditions that affect trees that a period of research is needed to understand and combat them in the future.
"We hope that our contributions here to the ongoing research of the Forestry Commission will help the national effort to understand the condition, and we will continue to monitor our oak trees carefully."
