Disaster in the Beacons
27th July 2013
It is now confirmed that a major outbreak of Phytophthora Ramorum is present in the conifer plantations in the Talybont and Taf Fechan areas of the Brecon Beacons national park. This disease is affecting Larch trees badly, turning them brown and causing them to die back. Evidence of this can be seen from most elevated positions on the Beacons. A major tree felling exercise will soon begin on thousands of hectares of forestry in an attempt to stop this outbreak.
This is disastrous news for birds like Goshawk, Nightjar, Crossbill and Siskin. Each one of these birds depend on these plantations for their existence. Goshawks breed exclusively in these plantations, Crossbills breed there and their only source of food is pine cone seeds, Larch in particular. Siskins also feed and breed there and Nightjars, although they favour felled areas of conifer, next May 2014, when they arrive at their breeding sites they will be met by a massive logging operation with tree felling machinery and transporters.
It really couldn't have come at a worse time for birds, their numbers are already in decline and now this!!
Sad times.
This is disastrous news for birds like Goshawk, Nightjar, Crossbill and Siskin. Each one of these birds depend on these plantations for their existence. Goshawks breed exclusively in these plantations, Crossbills breed there and their only source of food is pine cone seeds, Larch in particular. Siskins also feed and breed there and Nightjars, although they favour felled areas of conifer, next May 2014, when they arrive at their breeding sites they will be met by a massive logging operation with tree felling machinery and transporters.
It really couldn't have come at a worse time for birds, their numbers are already in decline and now this!!
Sad times.