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Ash dieback at Holmwood Common
Since the early 2000s, ash dieback disease has been gradually spreading across Europe, with many thousands of ash trees already in dramatic decline. Ash dieback is well established at Holmwood Common and we have been carefully monitoring its impact on our trees and their health for several years
Tackling ash dieback
The disease has led to many of our ash trees becoming brittle, which could lead to them becoming unstable or shedding limbs. To protect the public in the busiest areas of the site, we’re having to remove some trees from areas where they pose a genuine risk.
We realise that seeing machinery removing trees in well-loved landscapes is difficult and as a team we find it hard too. The removal of ash trees is an unwelcome, but necessary job. We need to act to ensure people are safe.
Please be aware that some paths may be temporarily closed while this work is completed.
Woodland regeneration
We will be leaving most of the arisings to improve our deadwood reserves. Deadwood is vital for woodland ecosystem health and provides habitat and food for many priority species like stag beetles. The new spaces created in the canopy will encourage natural regeneration and provide more light for native woodland plants and flowers to flourish.
To find out more information on the scale of ash dieback and how the National Trust is responding to it, visit our Restoring Woodlands page.