Hawth Woods in Crawley has an outbreak of the fungus ash dieback, and it has reached a point at which Crawley Borough Council must intervene for reasons of public safety. Regrettably, a large percentage of the wood’s ash trees will be lost.
Removal work will be carried out at intervals over the summer and unfortunately there will be disruption to the use of the woodland.
Care will be taken to preserve the woodland, the ecology, and the archaeology in the area, but these works will have an impact on the woodland, both during and after the works. Natural recovery using the dormant seedbank will be monitored and replanting will take place as required.
Ash dieback is a disease affecting most parts of the UK. Currently it is not possible to contain the disease and there is no treatment for it. Some ash trees are naturally resistant or tolerant to the disease and these are being retained to encourage future generations.