Trees at one of North Staffordshire’s most beautiful spots, loved by walkers, are to be cut down.A number of larch trees in the Cockroach Back Forest area are scheduled to be cut down.
Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, which manages the iconic Peak District Nature Reserve between Leek and Buxton, said it was legally required to complete the work due to a disease called There is. Phytophthora ramorum, it progresses “very quickly”.
The trust says that if the trees are not removed, they are likely to weaken and fall. Trees within 200 meters of the diseased tree will also be cut down.
Work is expected to begin this winter and end during the bird breeding season and end next winter, and visitors are currently being asked to respect signage and closed paths. Back Forest is located near the rift of the “magical” Rude Church near Gladbach.
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John Rowe, Land Management Team Manager (Northern), said: ‘Unfortunately, Forestry has discovered this disease in our back forests and we have had to cut down a large number of larch trees in our back forests. I didn’t.” Some of the trees are close to sidewalks, so sections will have to be closed to traffic while work is carried out.
“To prevent the spread of the disease to other areas of nearby larch, it is legally required to cut down infected larch trees and those within 200 meters of the infected tree. There are many other native trees in the back forest that are not at risk, so the majority of the forest will not be affected.”
The Trust is working with the Forestry Commission to develop a restoration plan for the area. John added: “As well as monitoring the natural regeneration of hardwoods, we plan to plant native hardwood species such as oak, hazel and birch over the next few years.
“Larch plantation areas are some of the darkest areas of the forest. By letting in more light, you will see the native hardwoods naturally seeding in these areas. The cleared areas will also help forest birds such as pineapples.” Home to flycatchers and warblers, they not only make the forest more natural but also bring in more wildlife. ”
What is Phytophthora ramorum?
Phytophthora ramorum is an algae-like organism called aquatic mold. Its spores are spread by wind-driven rain. When it lands on a leaf, it destroys the cell walls of the leaf and grows into a tree. This causes early blackhead symptoms. It then grows inside the tree, blocking the water transport system and causing it to wither and eventually die. While this process is occurring, the spores spread to other nearby trees.
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