Look out for Damaging Invasive Species
It’s Invasive Species Week from 15-21 May 2023. In woodland and forests we turn the spotlight on grey squirrels, deer and other pests and diseases.

There is plenty of opportunity to get involved in Invasive Species Week with activities for adults and children. Find out more here.
The public are also being asked to look out for Asian hornet and other alert species. If you see something you think should not be there check out Observatree’s priority pests and diseases pages and report any suspicions via Tree Alert in England Wales and Scotland or via Tree Check in Northern Ireland.
At the RFS we are proud to be sharing knowledge on managing those invasive species which are causing damage in our woodland and forests.
Check out our case studies:
- Counting the Costs of Grey Squirrel Damage in a Small Woodland
- Counting the Costs of Grey Squirrel Damage in an Oak Woodland
Read our report analysing how grey squirrel cause an estimated at £37m a year in woodland.
Tackling damage caused by deer. these may help.
- Case study on 10 years of Monitoring Deer at the Boughton Estate in Noethamptonshire
- Blog on Recognising Deer Damage by deer management expert Patrick Faulkner
Read the blog by Victoria Jackson from Maydenbury on Facing up to OPM.
In continental Europe, where Ips typographus is native, outbreaks of the beetle can have devastating effects. was first found in the UK during 2018 at a site in Kent.
Read this blog by Anna Platoni, the Advisory Entomologist at Forest Research.