An environmental project to remove trees affected by ash dieback and allow the remaining trees to thrive is continuing along the A511 and A50.
Leicestershire County Council’s forestry team and a contractor working on behalf of the council are carrying out the vital tree management works, which started last year at Boundary near the Derbyshire border, working along the route through Ashby and Coalville.
The final stage of the programme is now underway from the M1 junction at Markfield down to the A46 junction at Groby.
The works involve removing dead and dying trees affected by ash dieback. In addition to felling diseased trees, the team is carrying out proactive woodland management measures, including cutting back and clearing sections of the woodland, to improve the health of the remaining trees and create conditions for new growth.
To ensure road safety, trees and foliage that obscure road signs and affect visibility are also being trimmed back.
In line with Leicestershire County Council’s commitment to sustainability, all timber removed during the works will be reclaimed and repurposed, for example, being used as mulch or wood chippings.
Sites along the road where areas of diseased ash have been removed will be replanted with a mixture of native tree to provide species diversity and disease resilience.
Ash dieback is a serious issue, but we’re tackling it head-on by carefully managing affected trees and replanting with native species. This helps keep people safe while protecting the future of our woodlands.
It’s all part of our wider commitment to creating space for nature, improving habitats, boosting biodiversity and supporting a healthier environment for generations to come.
Person:Councillor Adam Tilbury, cabinet member for environment & flooding
Motorists are advised to drive carefully through the area and follow signage to ensure the safety of workers and the public during this essential work.
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, with around 120,000 of them at the side of roads.