Hundreds of trees to be felled in Brighton

Works start this week to remove the diseased trees in Woodvale Cemetery and in the Bevendean and Moulsecoomb woods.

Councillor Jamie Lloyd, deputy chairman of the city council's environment, transport and sustainability committee, said the disease is having a “terrible impact” on the city’s woodland.

“It’s devastating we’re losing so many of our trees,” he said.

“Sadly, we have no alternative but to remove all the infected trees to tackle the infection and keep our woodlands safe.”

The council’s initial inspections indicate a further 1,000 ash trees have been lost to the infection in Stanmer and Wild Park.

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Ash dieback is a fungal infection that affects trees and it is spreading throughout the UK and Europe.

According to the National Trust, the Woodland Trust and other environmental organisations, the disease will kill between 80 and 90 per cent of ash trees across the UK.

Some trees may look healthy but can still be infected. The fungus grows inside the tree, eventually blocking its water transport systems and causing it to die.

The council said they need to be removed quickly as they pose “an ever increasing risk to both the public and property".

Woodvale Cemetery, where infected trees are being felled this week. Credit: The Voice of Hassocks (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Until ash removal work has been done, the council is urging people to be extra careful in woodland areas due to the potential risk of falling trees and deadwood, especially on windy days.

The council has a regeneration plan to restore the city’s woodlands.

“We will be planting 14,000 tree whips this season to start regenerating the woodlands already affected,” said Cllr Lloyd.

“There’s a huge amount of work to do over the next few years.”

“It’s our priority to ensure the felling has the minimum impact possible on our wildlife and natural habitats.”