Hampshire County Council to fell more than 60 trees to fight ash dieback disease in Portchester

A WOODED area of Portchester has been struck by ash dieback disease, with scores of trees to be chopped down to stop the dangerous fungus spreading.
Last year, dozens of trees had to be cut down in The Queen's Inclosure, Cowplain, due to ash dieback.Last year, dozens of trees had to be cut down in The Queen's Inclosure, Cowplain, due to ash dieback.
Last year, dozens of trees had to be cut down in The Queen's Inclosure, Cowplain, due to ash dieback.

Hampshire County Council’s countryside service is set to remove approximately 65 ash trees infected with the disease in Wicor Copse, near Sissinghurst Road, later this month.

Ash trees, the third most common type of tree in the UK, fall over or lose their branches as they succumb to the deadly fungal infection, with falling timber posing a danger to cars, passersby, and properties.

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Several of the infected trees in Wicor Copse stand alongside residential properties, with residents writing to the county council to voice their concerns about the state of the trees, according to Fareham Borough Councillor Roger Price.

He said: ‘Last week I did have an email from a resident who was very concerned about a tree in the area – it could come down on their property.

‘So it is a concern among residents, and it has happened in the past.

‘Fareham Council has emailed about tree feeling to deal with ash dieback in the western wards.’

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‘But its important to remember that it’s a county wide problem.’

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The county council plans to replace the trees with species better suited to the location, according to Cllr Price.

The diseased trees have been identified as part of ongoing, county-wide surveys, with the problem first identified in Hampshire in 2014.

Hampshire County Councillor and executive member for recreation, heritage, countryside and rural affairs Edward Heron said: ‘Removing a tree is always a difficult decision to make and the last thing we would want to do, but when dead and dying ash trees pose a safety risk should their branches or the entire tree fall, it is crucial that we act swiftly to remove them to help keep the local community safe.’

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The removal of the diseased ash trees is expected to begin around the end of this month and will take approximately one week to complete.

Hampshire Countryside Service has sent letters with further information to residents who live in the immediate area.

Last year, more than 200 trees in a Horndean beauty spot were cut down due to the pervasive disease.

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