As autumn and winter descends, it's time for us to turn our attention to trees.
Around 30% of the land the Trust cares for is native woodland with orchards in-field trees, hedgerows, tree avenues also found across our holding.
Much of the woodland can be found on the lower slopes of the Malvern Hills near to highways and properties and, as landowners, managing tree safety forms a large part of our winter works.
Each year a third of the trees near to highways, properties, car parks and busy visitor areas are inspected by a professional, independent tree inspector. A report is submitted to the Trust by the inspector with recommendations for tree safety works. The works may include pollarding, removal of dead wood and the felling of trees where they pose a significant risk to highways and properties and the work is scheduled for this winter.
In addition to our regular tree safety programme, we have had to undertake further surveys to monitor the impact of ash dieback disease on the woodland under our care.
Ash dieback, which was first identified in the UK in 2012, has spread across the country and causes the wilting of leaves, shoots to die back and often the death of the tree.
Infected trees can become brittle and are likely to fail, so the removal of severely infected trees near to highways and properties is essential. It is believed that a small percentage of ash trees may be tolerant to the disease and ash trees on the Trust’s estate showing little or no signs of disease will be left and monitored.
This year’s tree safety works are underway and tree management will be taking place at a number of locations including Guarlford Road, Peachfield Road and British Camp.
As a charity with 1,200 hectares of land under our care, we are facing huge financial pressures as the disease takes hold and more practical management is needed in response. Many of the ash trees are on steep slopes near to roadsides requiring specialist and experienced contractors to safely remove them. This is expensive work at approximately £400 per tree.
We are asking local people to report ash trees on the Trust’s land which are badly affected and are near to highways or properties. The Trust is also asking for donations to help support the response to tree disease. Find out more about making a donation https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/MalvernHillsAshDieback
