The government is stepping up monitoring of a disease thought to pose a serious threat to UK oak trees.
Acute Oak Decline, which causes weeping patches on the stems of mature trees, is on the rise in England, particularly in the Midlands and the South East.
A national survey has been commissioned as part of a new £1.1m research drive.
Thousands of trees are thought to be affected, the Forestry Commission's lead scientist on the condition told Radio 4's Farming Today.
"This is a serious problem in the UK," said Dr Sandra Denman.
"So far we've only seen it in England, but because we haven't done any formal surveys we're unsure as to the full extent of the problem.
"But we do estimate that there are many thousands of trees that are affected."
Scientists believe a beetle may be responsible for the disease.
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