main content Hold on to your horses!

Residents are being urged not to jump to conclusions when it comes to their horse chestnut trees. Although the tree may appear to be dying, it is more likely to be in the midst of a severe, but not fatal, infestation of the moth Cameraria ohridella. A common trait of an infestation of this moth is for hundreds of ‘leaf mines’ to appear on the tree’s leaves where the moths’ larvae has delved inside the leaf. This gives the appearance of a dying tree, when in fact, it could still be healthy.

“The unfortunate news that the effects of C. ohridella have been spotted on some of Bromley’s horse chestnut trees comes as no surprise. It has been spreading throughout Europe since it was first discovered in Greece in the late 1970’s. The good news is that, although there is very little that can be done about such infestations, there is every chance a tree might withstand an attack of C. ohridella,” said Guy Stephens, Senior Arboricultural Officer for Bromley Council.

Leaves severely damaged by C. ohridella tend to shrivel, dry, turn brown and fall by late summer, well before normal autumn leaf fall. This can happen to 70-100% of all the leaves on a single tree, meaning that by August the tree can appear autumnal.

Residents can help reduce the damage by removing fallen leaves from infested trees on their property during the autumn and winter and then composting them thoroughly. Alternatively, collecting the leaves into smaller heaps and covering them with a layer of soil or other plant material can help to reduce the spread of the infestation.

For further information contact 020 8313 4471 or email trees@bromley.gov.uk. Out of office hours, there is an emergency number to report trees that have fallen and are dangerous on 020 8464 4848.

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Notes to Editors