Sycamore ailment

Yes this is a fungus called Tar Spot (for obvious reasons). A mate of mine did a study of this when he was at horti college.

It's very common and found all over the country. Some trees are effected and other less so or not at all. There is nothing that you can really do. The tree is usually not that adversely effected by it anyway so it's one of those things to just let be. It's certainly not a notifiable disease.

....probably not really what you wanted to hear eh? Lol

Thanks so much Fractal,( didn't realise I could write a comment here,)I suppose I will have to put up with it unless I can convince my neighbour otherwise! As my mum would say, "its neither use nor ornament!".

Yes these are a bloomin' nuisance aren't they? We had several in our last garden, not even decorative just cast dense shade. I even paid my children so much per every hundred seedlings they pulled up! LOL. We gradually took them all down much to the relief of all our neighbours as they get so big. Nothing constructive to say, just commiserations and good luck!

Have you tried talking to your neighbour and explaining the problems the tree is causing you?

Makes nice firewood.

And furniture

There is a small (genetic population) of Sycamore at Whykam just inland from Scarborough that believe it or not, actually develop fantastic autumn colours of brilliant reds and orange. Why can't all Sycamores be like these. Reminds me, I really must visit my aunt in Scarborough to collect some seed!!!

sorry to disagree , at one time I had a job for the county council, part of which was thining woods, by following a tree specalist who marked the trees that I had to cut down , most of them were sycamore, and I asked him the reason, he said they are regarded as the weeds of the tree world , they are fit for nothing the grain is so bad they can not beused in wood work and if you burn it it spits all over the place, so there is proberly no cure because well why bother?

Mazziestar just read your coment, why have you asked us in future just listen to your mother.

Hi Cliffo, they do use Sycamore for kitchen utensils though?

I agree though, it is a weed species and not native to the UK.

Yes my father in law had a large collection of them

thank's both,something else I did not know, you know I could write a book on what I don't know LOL,

Ach away laddie