NKDC's Tree Officer has confirmed they have identified an outbreak of sooty bark disease in the NKDC managed woodlands either side of the Potterhanworth Road/ Edward Barker Road junction.
This disease affects sycamores which are the most numerous large trees in the woodlands, although there is a varied and abundant understorey of more recent tree planting coming through to succeed them.
Sooty bark disease can rapidly kill an affected tree and is becoming an increasing problem due to the severe and extended heatwaves of recent years. It spreads from diseased sycamores to affect others in close proximity.
NKDC have therefore decided to remove symptomatic trees within the woodlands with the aim of reducing the incidence of sooty bark disease in the remaining sycamores and protecting the public from the hazard of falling dead branches.
These works will be carried out during the next few months by Simpson Arboriculture.
Although only 5 larger trees will be removed, one is the mature sycamore opposite the Martin Close junction, which is prominent.