The protection of heritage plant collections from the threat of two new plant diseases - Phytophthora ramorum and Phytophthora kernoviae - and a long term funding commitment to help deal with these destructive diseases will be at the heart of our submission to the Defra consultation which is launched today.

During the last five years we have had first-hand experience of dealing with these diseases. Phytophthora ramorum is now confirmed in many locations throughout the UK and Phytophthora kernoviae is beginning to spread: particularly worrying is its discovery on our native Bilberry (Vaccinium), an integral part of our UK heathland.

We have been working with Defra and other affected gardens and organisations over the past five years to manage and better understand these plant diseases. This three month consultation is an important opportunity for the garden industry to work together on tackling this major threat to our heritage gardens.

In our submission to the consultation we are likely to focus on the need for a range of robust measures that will ensure the protection of our heritage plant collections and our native species; for example:

• The need for current funding levels into research to be maintained. It’s essential that sufficient funding is made available to help gain a better understanding of the disease and how to control its spread.
• A need for additional funding to help with the long term programme of clearance of Rhododendron ponticum (which acts as a host for these two diseases) in order to reduce the creep of both variants of the disease across the UK (with control of this invasive species an added benefit).
• Establishing a Heritage and Botanical Garden Action Group. This group would help to co-ordinate efforts across the gardening sector in tackling these plant diseases. It would also be recognition that, in contrast to native species in the countryside, there is no specific governmental body dedicated to the care of botanical and historical collections in our heritage gardens.

Ian Wright, our lead advisor on Phytophthora, said:
'The policy of managing these diseases has to be rigorous in the actions taken within the UK, but also recognise that there remains the issue of imported plant materials. Stringent inspection controls for such plant material will be an essential part of any overall management option, so that we avoid infection being re-introduced from elsewhere.

'While a robust approach is essential, the way in which it is implemented at heritage gardens needs to appreciate that these gardens contain many rare and important plants that represent some of our most prized British gardening heritage. The timing of eradication programmes, for example, will need to take into account the other work required to save rare and important plants from this disease, such as pre-emptive emergency propagation projects.

'The disease has already had an impact at several National Trust properties where gardeners have worked to control the spread of the disease through clearance of affected areas. Our challenge is to save rare and historically important plants that make up the special character of individual gardens, and equally importantly, to find ways of dealing with the diseases whilst managing our gardens in a way that minimises the loss of character or their special historical significance.'