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Ash dieback at Reigate Hill and Gatton Park
Ash dieback is spreading at Reigate Hill and Gatton Park. The invasive fungus is making some trees brittle, which could lead to them becoming unstable or shedding limbs. That’s why some of the ash trees will need to be removed from the estate.
What is happening?
'We realise that seeing machinery removing trees in well-loved landscapes is difficult for people,’ says Marc Russell, area ranger at Reigate Hill and Gatton Park. ‘As a team we find it hard too. The forestry operation to remove ash trees at Reigate is an unwelcome, but necessary job to instruct. We need to act to ensure people are safe.’
What's the scale of the problem?
Trees have been individually assessed, but along Back Lane and some sections of the North Downs Way and Pilgrim’s Way, the majority of the trees are ash and are infected. So while there shouldn’t be many large gaps in woodland, there will be areas where the loss of trees is more visible. In some cases, there will be diversions to walking routes.
When will the works start and how long will they go on for?
The forestry operations will be taking place on and off over the next few years, until we’ve removed all trees that present a risk to the public.
What if birds usually nest in a tree you’re felling?
We hope to avoid the nesting season, but every tree is given a wildlife impact assessment before any work is started. If a bird is building a nest, the felling will be put on hold unless there is an urgent need to remove the tree.
Will the works interfere with my visit?
It may be necessary to temporarily divert footpaths or close off small areas where works are taking place. This should be for no more than a couple of days in each spot.
Will there be large machinery around?
Ash dieback can make trees brittle and unsafe for climbing so the tree surgery contractor will use specialist mechanical equipment to remove trees safely.
What will it look like afterwards?
Some areas will look wild and untidy for a while due to the amount of timber left on site – but it's more beneficial to wildlife to leave the wood than remove it all. Over the next few years, the timber will start to blend into the woodland and become less noticeable.
In other areas we are only removing individual trees, so the visual impact on the landscape will be minimal.
Are you planting any trees to replace those you cut down?
We’ll leave that to nature. Removing trees will open up the woodland canopy for natural regeneration.
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Restoring woodlands affected by ash dieback
Ash dieback is a fungal disease affecting the country’s native ash trees. As many as four out of five ash trees may be affected and, where the dying trees could cause a threat to human safety, we need to remove them.