Left in the Larch!

The appearance of the 'Sudden Oak Death' disease in Larch in Somerset has led to 60,000 of these conifers being cut down in an area of about 2000 hectares in an effort to halt the spread of the pathogen  (Phytophthora ramorum) (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-12134772 ). It seems that this fungus-like agent is rather unspecific about the kinds of trees that it infects. Larch are, of course, an important crop in managed woodlands.