Residents are being encouraged to play their part in keeping the countryside green by helping the county council identify and manage diseased ash trees.
Leicestershire County Council is dealing with the ongoing challenge of ash dieback, which has seen thousands of ash trees wiped out across the UK.
The highly destructive disease is caused by a fungus and can lead to infected trees shedding branches or limbs, or potentially falling as the tree dies.
There are no exact figures for the number of ash trees in Leicestershire, but it is estimated that there are more than half a million in the county.
Many of the trees are on private land, and the council is working to raise awareness of the issue among residents, businesses and landowners to remind them of their responsibility to ensure their trees do not become a hazard to road users and member of the public using footpaths.
Ash dieback continues to have a significant impact on our landscape, and it is vital that landowners understand their responsibilities in managing affected trees safely. Dead or weakened ash trees can present a serious risk to people, property and our highways if not properly maintained.
We are urging landowners to remain vigilant for the signs of ash dieback, including thinning canopies, dark lesions on the bark and dieback in branches. Early awareness and appropriate action can help reduce risks and support wider efforts to manage the disease.
Everyone has a role to play in protecting public safety and preserving our natural environment, so please take the time to check your trees and seek professional advice where necessary.
Person:Councillor Adam Tilbury, cabinet member for environment
The council has created a booklet full of help and advice on ash dieback, including clear information on the steps which landowners with infected trees on their land need to take to halt the spread of the disease, as well as pictures showing the symptoms of ash dieback. The booklets have been supplied to each of Leicestershire’s tree wardens to support their work with landowners, and are available to download from our website, where more information on ash dieback, including a short video, can also be found.
Earlier this year, the council announced that it had increased its tree planning target to one million over the next decade, with more than 500,000 planted so far.
The new target supports the ambitions of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland, which was launched in July 2025. It sets out a clear plan for identifying and prioritising areas where nature can recover. It aims to restore and link habitats, while also bringing wider benefits like reducing flood risk and helping tackle climate change.
Landowners are also being reminded that, with certain exemptions, all trees in Britain are protected by the Forestry Act, which means that a felling licence may be required to remove them. Tree owners should be clear that their tree is in an exempted category, which includes trees in gardens; or obtain a licence, before any felling takes place.