National Highways has begun fighting back against a major outbreak of ash dieback in the North West.

The fungus affects the shoots, branches and trunk base, causing canopy decline and eventually the death of most affected trees. The ash dieback fungus can now be found across most of the UK, including Cumbria.

To tackle the problem, a £2 million programme will see dead and dying trees removed from dozens of locations along the M6, A590, A56, M56, M66, M58, M60 and M61.

Over the next four months National Highways will work to make the tree population safe. At the same time, contractors will also carry out general environmental management and the planting of new trees.

The aim is to complete the works ahead of spring and the bird nesting season. To keep disruption to a minimum, some works will be carried out overnight with one or two-lane closures.

National Highways Environmental Manager Chloe O’Hare said: “Ash dieback has started to affect trees on our land. We have been monitoring its spread where symptoms have become more severe and are making every effort to minimise its impact. We want to do everything we can to preserve the biodiversity of our soft estate, but at the same time, we need to make sure everybody using our land, on or off road, is safe.

“We want to prolong tree life through careful management. This includes pruning, removing branches, reducing the size of trees and thinning out smaller trees to allow others the space to grow. We will only remove ash trees if we must - when an affected tree is a safety hazard because it's either dying or already dead. 

“Where we can, we'll replace trees to reduce the impact of the disease on the environment. In areas identified for replanting, we will be adding a broader range of native tree species for increased resilience.”

National Highways is responsible for 30,000 hectares of land which includes significant areas of woodland alongside our road network. This ‘soft estate’ supports a rich diversity of animal and plant life, including ash, one of our most useful and versatile native trees.

The government-owned company recognises the environmental value of trees and manages trees through their whole lifecycle with tree specialists carrying out regular inspections for safety and general woodland management. National Highways also has a legal obligation to maintain a safe network, so must ensure trees don’t present a hazard to road users or adjacent property.

Ivan Le Fevre, Head of Environment Strategy for National Highways, said: “We take our environmental responsibilities very seriously and are one of the largest tree planting organisations in the UK, with plans to plant an extra three million trees by 2030.

“We only cut back or fell trees where it is essential to keep people safe, protect the environment or where it is necessary to allow us to deliver schemes that improve journeys.

“Along areas of our network in the North West, in common with other parts of the UK, the severity of ash dieback has been increasing. Trees pose a safety risk, which means the management of trees is necessary to protect the landscape and all those who use our network.”

Barnaby Wylder, Plant Health Forestry Area Lead NW for the Forestry Commission, said Ash dieback has been present in North West England for more than a decade and symptoms are now widespread.

He said: “The fungus affects trees at different rates depending on their age, site conditions and the individual tree’s genetics. Fortunately, a small number of trees appear to be tolerant to the fungus and will hopefully eventually provide healthy ash trees for future generations to enjoy.”