Supplying Timber Issue 9 0 - Autumn 2025 - Flipbook - Page 8
The eight-toothed
all 13 outbreak sites following
Continued vigilance is urged,
spruce bark beetle (Ips
three years of monitoring
however, following a new,
typographus) has been
on site for beetle presence,
very small 昀椀nding that was
successfully eradicated from
gathering data and carrying
identi昀椀ed in Lincolnshire in July,
all the outbreak sites in
out regular surveillance to
found as part of a continued
England that were identi昀椀ed
determine eradication and
surveillance programme.
in 2021.
prevent the establishment of
breeding beetles.
The eight-toothed spruce
outbreaks are the results from
If left unmanaged, the pest
blow over of the pest from the
of spruce trees in Europe and
could signi昀椀cantly threaten
European mainland, where it
was 昀椀rst identi昀椀ed in the UK
Great Britain’s forestry and
the beetle is endemic. There
in 2018. It prefers stressed or
timber industries, putting an
is no evidence of spread – or
dying trees but, under the right
estimated 725,000 hectares
of impacts on healthy spruce
conditions, can attack healthy
of spruce (an area the size of
– in the UK. Landowners and
trees.
Cumbria), with a value of £2.9
land managers are being
billion, at risk of infestation and
urged to report any sightings
damage.
immediately.
eliminated the beetle from
Image: The Ips
typographus eighttoothed spruce bark
beetle.
Current evidence suggests
bark beetle is a serious pest
The Forestry Commission has
↑
New MD for The Pallet LOOP
The Pallet LOOP has
Andy said: “I am incredibly
announced Andy Williamson's
excited to step into the
promotion to Managing
Managing Director role at such
Director, from his previous
a pivotal time for The Pallet
role as Commercial Director.
LOOP.
Andy joined The Pallet LOOP
"After 12 months this next
in February 2024. Prior to
phase will see us deepen
joining the business, he held a
partnerships across the industry
number of industry leadership
and scale our innovative reuse
roles, including as Commercial
model to ensure the collection
Director at SIG and Group
of green LOOP pallets becomes
Managing Director of IKO.
the norm.”
SUPPLYING TIMBER
8
AUTUMN 2025
Image: Andy
Williamson has
become MD of The
Pallet LOOP.
↑
All the latest news and updates from across the timber supply chain
INDUSTRY NEWS
Spruce bark beetle eradicated from
sites around England
