A county project is breathing new life into areas hit by destructive tree disease.
Denbighshire County Council’s Tree Team help manage the Councils’ tree asset and are leading the response to Ash Dieback, surveying affected trees and commissioning works where necessary.
Ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus ) is a highly destructive disease. As the common name of ash dieback suggests, infected trees typically die back and have to be cut down where there are health and safety concerns.
There is no known cure or method for preventing the transmission of this airborne fungus, therefore alternative approaches are needed to manage its impact.
Particularly as this native tree is common across Denbighshire and its gradual loss is having a significant impact on the landscape and its associated biodiversity.
However, the Council’s Tree Team are bringing new life into some of the areas impacted by ash dieback through The After Ash project.
The project has provided replacement trees for particularly prominent Ash trees that unfortunately had to be felled within the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape.
Thanks to the Sustainable Development Fund, the team has be able to supply large (standard) sized trees that will have an immediate visible impact.
In the coming months the team will be looking to give out their latest delivery of different native tree species to various parties, including Llanarmon Yn Ial Community Council.
Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport said:
“Our Tree Team has focused on areas across the county where diseased ash trees could potentially pose a risk to people and other ash trees in the vicinity. After felling the ash wood can be used for nature habitats where the trees grew or reclaimed for other uses.
“The After Ash project allows us to tackle the loss of real prominent landmark trees across Denbighshire that have been lost to this disease and provide replacements that will grow in these locations to become future landmarks for generations to enjoy.”
For further information about ash dieback please visit Denbighshire County Council’s website on the following link: https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/environmental-health/trees-hedges-and-grass/ash-dieback/ash-dieback.aspx
