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A BAN on the commercial planting of spruce in areas of the country already hit by infestations of Ips typographus gives forestry a "fighting chance", a senior industry figure has said. 

Officials this month confirmed the drastic measure in response to a number of outbreaks in the south east of England, with findings of the pest spreading further north in recent years. 

Ips - also known as the eight-toothed spruce bark beetle - has had a devastating effect on plantations on continental Europe, arriving on British shores in 2018 and recently having been identified on Sitka spruce for the first time. 

READ MORE: Spruce tree planting banned in large swathes of England amid fresh Ips findings

While Sitka isn't the spruce of choice for the much of the region - with Norway generally favoured - the threat has risen substantially enough for the Forestry Commission to ban the planting of the genus Picea A.Dietr from October 29. Christmas tree growing and the growing of spruce in a nursery setting  are among the situations that will still be allowed from that date, but with their own fresh restrictions. 

Forestry officials have since broadly welcomed the news. 

Confor's John Bruce said: “Confor welcomes stronger measures to help tackle the threat of Ips typographus infestations breaking out of South-East England.

“When we talk about the spruce resource in the South East and East of England, we must not confuse it with the extensive spruce forests we have in wetter Northern and Western areas of the UK.

John Bruce broadly welcomed the new measures John Bruce broadly welcomed the new measures (Image: FJ/Jack Haugh)

"While Norway spruce (the predominant spruce in this area) remains a component on some woodland estates and on the right soils, in general terms it is not being extensively planted in this drier climate (even before Ips) and there are lots of sites where existing spruces are under stress, unhealthy or windblown.

“While the new restrictions are likely to impact on local growers that want to grow spruce for timber where site conditions would have allowed it, this move is clearly intended to help protect the wider forestry and timber industry in the UK.

“Ultimately this is about limiting the available habitat and conditions for Ips typographus to get a foot hold in the UK, hence Confor fully supports this action by government.”

He added: "The UK is an island and, with its fragmented spruce resource in the South East and East of England, therefore has a fighting chance of helping to limit or at least slow the movement of Ips from the south, while we work on medium to longer term contingences." 

The new requirements come into force on 29 October across the existing demarcated area in the South East of England and East Anglia prohibiting the planting of spruce trees. Areas affected include parts of Lincolnshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Greater London, Sussex, Kent and Essex.

Norway spruce, the preferred spruce for much of the region, is among the banned species Norway spruce, the preferred spruce for much of the region, is among the banned species (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Defra chief plant health officer, professor Nicola Spence, said: “Pest and pathogens present a great risk for our biosecurity and, in particular, Ips typographus has the potential to cause significant damage to Great Britain’s forestry and timber industries."

Christmas tree growers in the affected area can continue to grow an unlimited number of spruce trees up to three metres in height above the root collar before authorisation is required.

Russell Parkins, chairman of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association, said: "The highest demand for family Christmas trees is 6 to 8 feet, these size trees are under the 10-foot restriction.

"For larger Spruce trees or wholesale sales, necessary guidelines and licenses are obtained from the Forestry Commission.

"The most popular Christmas tree in the UK, the Nordmann Fir, would not be impacted by these regulations.”