Unwelcome Guests: How Insect Pests are Impacting Britain’s Forests with The Biological Recording Company

Join this webinar with Katy Dainton (Forest Research) to learn about the insect pests affecting British trees and the forestry industry.

This is a live event, consisting of a presentation, followed by Q&A with the tutor – so have your questions at the ready!

Can’t attend but don’t want to miss out? Book a space and you will receive a link to watch the event back, once the live event content has been processed.

Book your place via The Biological Recording Company Eventbrite page.

Climate change and global trade are driving rising threats to British forests from insect pests, with impacts ranging from reduced timber yields to losses in biodiversity and carbon storage. Drawing on a comprehensive assessment of 56 pest species, this presentation highlights the origins, impacts, and management of both native and non-native pests, identifies tree genera most at risk, and examines the role of trade, climate, and management in shaping outcomes. This talk will highlight several high-impact pests, including large pine weevil and bark beetles and advocate for a systems-level Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to strengthen forest resilience and anticipate future threats.

Katy Dainton is a Research Entomologist at Forest Research where she develops Integrated Pest Management (IPM) tools and strategies for forest pests. This includes designing monitoring techniques, advancing non-chemical controls, managing the Rhizophagus grandis breeding programme, and providing specialist advice on tree health in northern Britain. She joined Forest Research in 2015 after completing an MSc in IPM, following earlier work with Natural England and a career in the arts and heritage sector.

Image credit: Thierry Arbault