We've had a letter from Derbyshire County Council asking us to cut down the roadside trees ("20-30 affected trees") as they are showing signs of advanced Ash dieback disease. We're talking with contractors to undertake those felling works. The contractors will be using forestry equipment at the roadside. We have to complete the works within 6 months. During the operation, traffic control (lights) will be required on the Ashbourne Road (A517) between the rail bridge and the Ecclesbourne bridge to keep road traffic safe.
First, we'll need a Forestry Commission Felling licence before we can commence felling the trees. I'm in the process of cataloguing each Ash Tree as part of the application process. Only trees on the embankment will be processed in this exercise, the Ash trees on the south hedge will be considered later. We've let the Parish Council know what is about to take place.
The catalogue process involves physically numbering each tree (aluminium tag), measuring its circumference "at chest height", and assessing how badly the tree is affected by the disease. Given the steepness of the road embankment we are using safety ropes. As we measure each tree we are wrapping pink marker tape around the tree, this helps us to keep track of what we've measured. The pink tape doesn't not necessarily mean that we'll cut down that tree during the roadside operation.
We're also documenting the before and after situation with drone photography. The picture below shows one of the worst affected areas of Ash trees. It was taken 28th Sept by drone about 50 metres above ground.. You can see bare branches, they'd normally still be in full leaf.
We'll be replanting with native broadleaf tree saplings to replace the felled Ash trees. We'll not plant Ash or Elm, both are locally affected by disease.