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We've had several enquiries regarding our recent felling work at Blackbush & Twenty Acre Shaw Woods. Please see below for reasons why we're carrying out felling work👇
• The works being carried out at Blackbush and Twenty Acre Shaw are to manage the impact of ash dieback disease. Ash dieback is a fungal disease that affects ash trees and is unfortunately present in this woodland and prevalent across Kent and the wider UK countryside. There is no cure for ash dieback disease, a...nd those trees affected become structurally unstable as the disease extends into the tree. As all Woodland Trust woods are open to the public, visitor safety is of utmost importance. We take the health and safety of every visitor to our woods extremely seriously, and we’re proud of that.
• We are legally obliged to ensure trees on our estate are safe and do not pose a hazard to visitors. Trees with ash dieback are annually inspected to check on advancement of the disease. A significant number of ash trees at Blackbush and Twenty Acre Shaw are in an advanced stage of decline and were felled to ensure public safety. Felling has concentrated on affected trees adjacent to paths, public rights of way, and roads. Diseased ash trees growing away from paths and roads are left, giving areas of the wood the time and space to naturally decline. This is in line with our best practice guidance for managing ash dieback on our estate that is applied consistently across the UK.
• Blackbush and Twenty Acre Shaw Woods are much loved woodlands, and we are grateful to everyone who helped us to purchase the first site in 1997, and to help continue the management for the past 23 years. These essential works will ensure that Blackbush and Twenty Acre Shaw woods is a safe and welcoming place for visitors, and the woodland habitat is safeguarded in the long term for the best they can be for wildlife and people.
• Ash dieback will kill around 80% of ash trees across the UK. At a cost of billions, the effects will be staggering. It will change the landscape forever and threaten many species which rely on ash. Ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) is a fungus which originated in Asia, and its spread across Europe has devastated the population of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) because our native ash species did not evolve with the fungus and this means it has no natural defence against it.
• The threat of tree pests and diseases is one of grave concern to the Woodland Trust, not only because it may impact our own woods but also the wider woodland landscapes. It is why we have invested heavily in ensuring that every tree planted by the Woodland Trust is UK and Ireland Sourced and Grown. This means we can be confident that we will not be increasing the risk of importing similar devastating issues like ash dieback as we create new woods and will continue to campaign for a reduction in imported trees.
‘Planting trees made our pupils aware that although the problems we face are enormous there are solutions, and it is better to do one small thing than nothing at all.’
Even the smallest of us can make a big difference. You can help fight climate change by planting trees in your local school. Apply by January 5th for a free tree pack in March 2021 http://www.woodlandtru.st/tLfBT
We’re able to supply these trees for free due to generous funding from our partners.
