Warnings over Christmas tree-eating beetle

The eight toothed spruce bark beetle mainly attacks unhealthy trees, the Forestry Commission says

There is a warning that a species of beetle being blown across the Channel from mainland Europe could destroy Christmas trees.

The Forestry Commission said that eight toothed spruce bark beetles are "a serious pest of spruce trees".

The commission is banning the planting of new spruce trees in southern and eastern England from 29 October to limit the impact of the invasive beetle.

But one farmer from Kent said people "should not be worried about them".

Edward Barham, who owns the Hole Park Estate at Rolvenden and sells Christmas trees from his site, told BBC Radio Kent: "The beetles will find a bad tree and settle in there and spread from there."

Edward Barham owns the Hole Park Estate at Rolvenden

The eight toothed spruce bark beetles, also known as Ips typographus, was first spotted in the UK in Kent in 2018.

planting of new spruce trees comes into force on 29 October in southern and eastern parts of England as part of new measures to limit the impact of the invasive beetle.

However "Christmas tree growers in the affected area can continue to grow an unlimited number of spruce trees up to three metres (9.8ft) in height", the Forestry Commission says.

Mr Barham said: "Christmas trees are up to 2m - 3m (6.5ft - 9.8ft) tall and we have been told we are allowed to keep growing them by the [Forestry] Commission - but we continue to work with them.

The Forestry Commission said: "The pest prefers stressed or dying trees but, under the right conditions, it can attack healthy trees."

"People don't want to buy or see second rate Christmas trees," Mr Barham said.

"We are getting rid of the bad ones."