Confirmation of Disease Threatens Acton Park’s Blue Cedars

A group of Atlas Cedars in a Wrexham park are at risk of being removed after one tree was confirmed as being ‘diseased cedar dieback’.

The tree, which is park of three Atlas Cedars near the Gorsedd Stones in Acton Park has been confirmed by the Forest Research agency as being diseased cedar dieback, (Sirococcus tsugae). One of the adjacent trees is now showing symptoms of the disease.

This is a disease that was only detected in Britain two years ago and can cause up to 70% defoliation and lead to the trees death. There are no effective control measures for the disease.

The Council’s tree officers are arranging for the infected tree to be removed, and to carry out mulching and fertilisation of the remaining two trees in the group to try and boost their health in a hope that it may give them some resilience against the disease.

Lead member for Environment Cllr David Bithell said: “Most of the Council’s mature Atlas Cedars are in this park, I believe there are eight in total, so if this disease takes a hold it could be devastating for the landscape of Acton Park.

“The Council will always do what it can to try and save trees but it’s difficult if there are no known control measures we can put in place”.

There have been other sightings of Atlas Cedars in and around Wrexham showing symptoms consistent with the disease and officers are monitoring the situation on Council owned trees, residents and tree owners concerned about their own cedar trees can find information on the Forest Research website –  and can report findings of the disease here.