Ash die-back disease

Ash die-back is a disease caused by a fungus (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) that arrived in Europe from Asia in the 1990s. It spread quickly and probably arrived in the east of the UK around 2004 although it wasn't officially recorded in the UK until 2012. Since then it has travelled to other areas. We first spotted signs of the disease in Gallagher's Copse in 2020. It is anticipated that up to 95% of the ash trees in a woodland may succumb to the disease but it is impossible to identify which trees will succumb and how quickly they will die. There is no known cure.

The fungus progressively damages the vascular tissues of the tree, causing branches to die back by blocking their supply of water and nutrients. Once infected the dead and dying branches can become brittle and fall, as can the tree, presenting a very significant health and safety risk in public access spaces such as Gallagher's Copse. In January 2021 we had approximately 400 ash trees in our woodland. 

Because of the above the directors of the GCMC considered two courses of action; close the woodland to public access for many years or remove those ash trees that presented a significant risk to the public or the domestic properties and estate residents. For various reasons the latter was chosen. In January 2022 the Forestry Commission issued the GCMC with a 5 year felling license to remove all of the potentially dangerous  ash trees. Whilst the terms of the felling license do not require us to replant as we have excellent natural regrowth, where the removal of multiple trees has a significant impact we have and will replant with native species such as oak, birch, field maple, rowan, hawthorn, blackthorn and hazel donated by the Woodland Trust in association with Nectar.

Registered members may view the felling plan in the members section of this website.