Ash Dieback, a serious fungal disease affecting ash trees across the country, has infected many of the woodlands on the Salisbury Plain Training Area
To protect the future of uninfected ash trees, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), together with its strategic partner, Landmarc Support Services (Landmarc), is carrying out a tree-felling clearance scheme to remove infected trees, beginning in early 2020.
There is no cure or treatment for the disease and over time infected trees will weaken, causing branches to fall and trees to eventually collapse and die. This presents a significant health and safety risk, especially alongside roads, public rights of way and woodland areas used by the public for recreation activities and soldiers for training.
Infection can lead to the death of young trees in just two to three years and of mature trees within three to five years. Approximately 14,000 trees across 250 locations have been affected by the disease on the Salisbury Plain Training Area.
To protect the public and estate users, DIO foresters and ecologists are working with Landmarc, the Forestry Commission and Natural England to inspect and remove infected trees. A replanting scheme will also take place to replace lost trees in accordance with the requirements of the felling licences. The DIO and Landmarc are also working closely with Wiltshire Council to manage the effect on roads and any potential road closures.
Jeremy Kalkowski, DIO’s Senior Forester, said:
Chris Sorensen, South West Woodland Resilience Officer, from the Forestry Commission said:
Judith Peachey, Landmarc’s Forestry Harvesting and Marketing and Arboriculture Advisor said:
The work will take place in phases and should be completed in approximately 3 years, with tree health surveying and monitoring continuing once felling is complete. The first phase of felling will target Ashdown Copse and along the A345, and will run until the end of March 2020, when work will stop to protect nesting birds. Phase two will begin in September 2020 to continue work at Ashdown Copse, as well as other locations where Ash Dieback has been identified including Erlestoke, Everleigh, Heytesbury, Warminster and along neighbouring roadsides.
Areas, where work is taking place, will be closed to the public for safety reasons. Areas available for recreation will be signed as open to the public.
For more information on road closures and the programme of work, please refer to your local Parish Council, or visit the GOV.UK website and the Wiltshire Council website.