Officials give up fight against fruit tree disease

The name of the disease is descriptive of the characteristics as twigs, flowers, and leaves turn brown and black as if they have been burned by fire

A disease that affects fruit trees is so established in Jersey the government says it will no longer try to eradicate it.

Fireblight shrivels and kills the leaves and fruit of apple and pear trees as well as roses and hawthorn.

The Government of Jersey said after it surveyed 66 cases of the disease in June "it is reasonable to assume that fireblight is now established within Jersey rather than in small, isolated pockets that might have been managed manually in the past".

The government has told commercial growers they should regularly check their trees and plants for signs of the disease and remove and burn any diseased sections.

Jersey could be re-infected from Europe or the UK the following season, the government said

In a briefing document to growers about the disease, the Department of Infrastructure and Environment said efforts to eradicate the disease in other European countries had been "costly" and showed it was "not possible".

The department explained that eradicating the disease would involve pruning and destroying all infected material across the island.

Even if it was possible, it added, Jersey could be reinfected from Europe or the UK the following season.

Anyone with questions or wanting a plant tested can contact the government's Natural Environment team for advice.