10th March 2022
We have taken the opportunity of the winter season to remove trees infected with ash die back that are close to the line. Ash die back is a major issue in the country and trees alongside the railway line are identified, monitored and removed as required.
Ash dieback is a fungus which originated in Asia. It doesn’t cause much damage on its native hosts of the Manchurian and Chinese ash in its native range. However, its introduction to Europe about 30 years ago has devastated the European ash because our native ash species did not evolve with the fungus and this means it has no natural defence against it. Ash dieback is estimated to kill around 80% of ash trees across the UK.