Advance notice of Cowdray’s comprehensive tree safety management work on the A286

A comprehensive roadside tree safety management project including a programme to remove trees suffering from ash dieback is due to take place from mid-April 2019 along the A286 between Midhurst to Singleton.

Cowdray are carrying out these essential works as part of the estate’s ongoing commitment to public safety and to proactively remove diseased trees from areas where they potentially pose the highest risk including highways and public areas.

Cowdray are working alongside multiple neighbouring landowners, including the Forestry Commission, in order to minimalise disruption and to carry out the work as efficiently as possible.

Cowdray Foresters have already carried out comprehensive work on main roads that run through the Estate including the A286 north of Easebourne and on minor roads around Bepton and Elstead. These areas contained high concentrations of infected ash trees.

First confirmed in Britain in 2012, ash dieback is a disease of ash trees caused by a fungus which causes leaf loss, crown dieback and bark lesions in affected trees. Once a tree is infected the disease is usually fatal, either directly or indirectly as the disease weakens the trees making them vulnerable to other infections. The disease is spread by released spores and has swept across Europe over the past 20 years.

There is no cure for the disease, although it is thought that a very small percentage of trees will have an in-built resistance. In the future, these trees may hold the key to regenerating ash throughout the landscape.

Richard Everett, Forest Manager at Cowdray, said: “Cowdray has taken a proactive approach to roadside tree safety management throughout the Estate which includes removing trees that are suffering from ash dieback.

“We apologise in advance for any inconvenience the tree management project along the A286 may cause, however this vital work reflects Cowdray’s commitment to public safety and to forest management.

“Ash trees are a prominent feature in our landscape, and we need to continue to adapt our forestry techniques to ensure our woodlands are resilient and sustainable in the future.”

Throughout the summer, Cowdray will continue to survey woodlands to assess the rate of infection and to also put next autumn’s programme of work together.

Cowdray Foresters are also carrying out the winter planting programme where thousands of trees are replanted to replace those harvested over the previous year. This planting includes a range of productive conifer species as well as native trees such as oak, hornbeam and field maple, which will replace some of the ash that has recently been felled.

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For more information please email:
Matilda Reid
Marketing, Cowdray Estate
t: 01730 811106
matilda.reid@cowdray.co.uk