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As ash dieback infects a tree, the tree will begin to lose its leaves and rot. As the tree dies it becomes more vulnerable to high winds and can be in danger of shedding limbs or being blown over.

So, infected ash trees next to our footpaths and trails are dangerous.  We need to be remove these trees to keep these routes safe.

We have left the trees where they were felled because dead wood on the forest floor provides an excellent habitat for a huge range of insects and brilliant shelter for nesting birds. 

Where infected trees pose no danger to footpaths and trails, we will leave them alone since standing deadwood is an ideal habitat for bats and other wildlife. Ash is currently one of the most common broadleaved trees in Britain. 955 species of birds, fungi, insects, mosses, invertebrates etc have been identified that depend upon ash trees, at least partially. ​

The infected timber poses a minimal risk once it is felled as the disease is spread mainly in leaf litter. 

We will allow some areas to naturally regenerate and in other areas we will plant new broadleaf saplings. We hope to achieve a good diversity of different species, which should help our woodlands develop greater resistance to disease and climate change in the future.

Hopefully, with more light now getting through to the forest floor, we should also see the development of mosses, ferns and grasses which may not have been present before.