MORE than 3,000 larch trees – which help give the Forest its stunning autumn colour – are to be felled in a bid to stop the spread of a disease which has caused devastation in other parts of the country.

The measure is being taken following the discovery of the fungal disease Phytophthora ramorum which can produce hundreds of thousands of spores per needle.

Checks for the disease are made by spotters in helicopters and it has been found in eight sites in the Forest.

They are: between Coalway and Sling, Sallow Vallets, Cannop crossroads, Crabtree Hill, near Heywood School, Cinderford, Nailbridge, Christchurch and between Sling and Bream.

To stop the spread of the disease, all larch within 100 metres of an infected tree are felled, said Deputy Surveyor Mr Kevin Stannard.

Felling of 45 hectares of larch will start within four weeks leaving "large areas" of bare ground.

There are about 880 hectares of larch which makes up about 11 per cent of the total area of the Forest.

He said the presence of Phytophthora ramorum should not stop people using the Forest as usual.

He said: "There are hundreds of species of Phytophtora and we are talking specifically about Phythophtora ramorum.

"Phythoptora ramorum affects larch and some others such as sweet chestnut and rhodedendrons.

"This is not the end of the Forest but it could be the beginning of the end of larch in the Forest.

"We have picked it up very early and if we fell these trees we should be able to stop the build-up so that it is contained.

"There will be some large areas of bare ground but we will put the brakes on unaffected species.

"The disease is spread on warm, damp winds, you are not going to spread it by walking around the Forest.

"What we would ask is that people clean their boots and equipment before going into other woods.

"If you have ornamental plants in your garden you might want to have another pair of boots for walking.

"It will mean about 8,000 tonnes of wood coming out of the Forest that was unplanned.

"The bark and sawdust can only be sent for uses such as fuel for woodburners."

The only other case of the disease in the Forest of Dean was last year in Lydney when rhodedendrons were affected at Lydney Park Estate. Mr Stanndard said it was "properly and professionally dealt with".

The Forestry Commission is also fighting the spread of another disease which will mean 600 hectares of Corsican pine has to come down.