The Parish Council owns the woodland known as The Warren in South Harting which was badly affected by ash dieback. A majority of the trees in The Warren were ash and all of them were infected by ash dieback. Honey fungus was also widely present and together these diseases made the trees very vulnerable to sudden, unexpected falling.
Find out more about the timeline to ash dieback in the Warren
Ash dieback is a deadly fungus transmitted through spores, not unlike viruses in the human population. It is predicted it could kill up to 95% of the UK’s ash stock. This particular area of the country has been very badly affected by the disease.
The first sign of dieback is leaf loss after which the weakened trees are also vulnerable to other infections, such as honey fungus, and can shed limbs or even fall without warning.
Having sought professional advice and been granted a felling licence by the Forestry Commission, swift action was taken to remove the diseased trees.
Falling trees are dangerous to people, animals and the ecosystems around them. Removing them was the only way to ensure the area was safe.
Read the reports from the arboriculture consultant following surveys in February 2018 and June 2019
