National Trust tree safety works in Cookham this autumn

National Trust tree safety works in Cookham this autumn

Tree safety works due to ash dieback will necessitate the closure of several roads in Cookham this autumn and winter.

Ash dieback is a highly infectious and devastating disease which causes trees to become dangerous because of the potential for falling limbs or trunks.

Ash dieback was first detected in the UK in 2012 in Kent and East Anglia, but is now present across the whole of the UK. In the Maidenhead and Cookham area, there has been a rapid increase in trees in severe decline over the past two years. Ash is our third most common tree, and current thinking is that 70-95% of ash trees will be affected.

Ash dieback is caused by a fungus, Hymenoscyphus Fraxineus, which spreads rapidly as its spores are windborne. The tree dies from the top down and can take as little as a year, or as much as 30 years to die. Other factors such as drought and honey fungus affect the rate of decline.

The National Trust’s outdoor teams are trained to inspect trees for safety and are highly experienced in this area of work.

National Trust Lead Ranger Tim Crauford commented:
“We recognise that felling trees in well-loved landscapes is difficult for people to see. We all appreciate the benefits of trees, and our team also finds it a difficult task to instruct. However, we will only remove those the trees that have been identified as posing a risk to the safety of the public, or to the safety of our staff and contractors. Further into their decline the trees can become extremely hazardous to work on. We’ll complete these works as quickly as possible and we appreciate your support and understanding.”

Hockett and Bigfirth Lanes will be closed at half term:

25-29 October 2021, 9.30-4pm

Gibraltar Lane will close for four 4-day periods between 9:30am – 4pm during October, November and January:

18 - 21 October 2021.
1st – 4th November 2021
January dates are likely to be 10-13 and 24-27 January 2022.

Neil Wilson, of Beechwood Tree Care, which is contracted to carry out the work commented:
“We understand this is very inconvenient for residents, road-users and walkers, but tree felling is a hazardous, complex operation and it’s essential to have a secure worksite. Our vehicles and machinery will take up the entire road, so we’ll not be able to accommodate any vehicle movements in or out of the closed roads during the works. Access for emergency vehicles will not be affected.”