UK Garden Sentinel Network (UKGSN)

Project: Ongoing

BGCI is proud to support this collaboration initiative

Project Partners: PlantNetwork & Observatree

Plants, including trees in the UK and Ireland are under unprecedented threat from new and harmful pests and diseases, which can have a devastating impact on gardens and in the wider landscape. Therefore, there is a need to conduct surveillance for early detection of pest and diseases enabling to take measures aimed at eradicating the harmful organism before spreading.

Project Goals

The UK Garden Sentinel Network (UKGSN) is a new collaboration between PlantNetwork, Observatree and, Botanic Garden Conservation International (BGCI). This initiative is UK focused and brings together the UK’s network of plant collections (PlantNetwork) with the network of citizen scientist already mobilised through Observatree, supported by tree health diagnosticians and other plant health experts.

Mercy Morris (PlantNetwork Manager) said:
“Using our network of plant collections for surveillance of tree pests and diseases is a perfect “win, win” situation. Not only are our collections and gardens are better protected so is the wider environment if spotting these nasties early prevents their establishment and further spread”.

The aim of the UKGSN is to engage and educate garden professionals, volunteers and visitors by providing identification training, diagnostic support and access to reporting system; conduct surveillance, reporting and identification of tree pests and pathogens of concern with the participation of volunteers and citizen science networks; and raise awareness on tree health.

Key Achievements

The UKGN was launched in April 2024

Watch again the first UKGSN webinar, featuring an launching and introduction to the initiative.

The Tree Health Pilot

The Tree Health Pilot invites citizen scientists and volunteers to participate in the surveillance of three specific pests and diseases (i.e. great spruce bark beetle, elm-zig-zag sawfly and European mountain ash ring-spot associated virus) affecting trees across the UK and report their presence or absence via the Tree Alert website.

The goal of this pilot is to raise awareness of tree health nationwide and to improve our understanding of the distribution of harmful organisms throughout the UK. [Watch the UKGSN webinar for information about the introduction to the Pilot, insights into the targeted organisms affecting trees, and step-by-step guidance on the reporting process]

The Tree Health Pilot launched during Plant Health Week, from the 6th to the 12th of May 2024. The surveillance activity will take place from May until October 2024 after which, we will be having a feedback session in June, and an end of season session in autumn.

Access the guidance for UK health tree report submission below: