The fight against Dutch elm disease in Brighton and Hove is continuing through the winter – even though it officially marks the end of the season for the disease.
The danger lurks in logs cut from diseased trees.
Brighton and Hove City Council said that people should be vigilant when they store logs for fires.
The council said: “Elm logs cut from diseased trees can still contain the larvae of elm bark beetles.
“If these logs are not burnt during winter the larvae will hatch into beetles, fly from the logs and spread the disease.”
The council said that its tree experts were available to check stored logs to ensure that they were free of elm disease.
The council said: “If the disease is found, the council will replace the logs free of charge.”
Arboriculture manager Rob Greenland said: “We’ve been successful this year in keeping cases of elm disease to a minimum thanks to the vigilance of residents who help us to spot warning signs in trees.
“However, we are now asking residents to continue to help by checking stored logs and, if unsure, taking up our offer to come and inspect them.
“Even if you don’t have a log fire, you can help by spreading the word to friends and neighbours who do.
“And with our offer to replace free of charge any diseased logs, you have nothing to lose.”
He said that residents ordering logs could help by asking that no elm logs be included.
Brighton and Hove is home to the national collection of elms and currently has about 17,000 healthy trees.
They include individual and important groups of elms in most parks and open spaces.
Mr Greenland said: “Failure to control elm disease could have a disastrous impact on the thriving elm collection in Brighton and Hove and it is vital that we do what we can to stop the spread.”
