Woodland in Walton-le-Dale closed to public as dozens of diseased and healthy trees to be felled and thinned
Dozens of diseased and healthy trees will be felled and thinned, and new species replanted...
A woods popular with walkers and dog owners has closed to the public while dozens of diseased ash trees are thinned and felled.
Carr Wood, off London Way in Walton-le-Dale, is affected by ash dieback and Lancashire County Council are due to begin removing the infected trees.
A temporary closure is now in place and there are barriers and signs at the entrance points advising the public to avoid the woods while works take place. A reopening date for Carr Wood has not been confirmed at this stage.
The Council said it will also carry out thinning of healthy trees, which has been approved by the Forestry Commission. Replanting will take place with a diverse and more resilient mix of trees to be introduced to the woodland, including common oak, wild cherry and hazel.
A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "Work is due to begin to remove ash trees in Carr Wood that are affected by Ash Dieback disease.
"The infection has been carefully managed for seven years, but other factors have now led to accelerated tree decline.
“Due to the deteriorating condition of the ash trees, a temporary closure of the woodland has been put in place while essential work takes place.
“We will be taking this opportunity, where it is appropriate, to also carry out a planned thinning of the healthy trees, as approved by the Forestry Commission.
"Once this is complete and the site is safe, we will reopen Carr Wood, with re-planting planned for the next planting season.
"Woodland thinning is not usually followed by replanting, but larger canopy gaps will be replanted with native species including common oak, wild cherry and hazel trees. By re-planting a diverse mix of trees, Carr Wood will become more resilient to disease."
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What is ash dieback?
Ash dieback is a fungal disease first seen in the UK in 2012. It is now widespread and causes leaf loss and in some cases can lead to tree death.
It is feared it could wipe out up to 85% of Britain’s native ash trees, as they have not evolved natural defences against the fungus originally from Asia.