Roadside Tree Safety

Future-proofing our roadside woods for years to come.

In recent weeks you may have noticed that we have carried out some tree work along the roadsides around Midgley and along Denby Dale Road. We thought you might be interested to hear the reason for the work and a little more about how we positively manage woodlands in the area.

Weather patterns are becoming increasingly erratic, with large storms more common throughout the year. Trees have evolved to withstand these storms in the winter when they have lost their leaves, but unfortunately we are seeing increasing instances where these storms are happening during the summer, when full canopies mean trees are unable to withstand the weight from the rain and the pressure from the wind.

Many of the roadside trees that you see are ash. Unfortunately, ash dieback, a fungal disease, is becoming more prevalent with very few ash trees immune to it. The infection weakens trees, often in places that cannot be seen, making them brittle and more prone to failure. Ash dieback follows other similar infections such as Dutch Elm Disease, which have left dead trees in their wake.

We are also mindful that roads are getting busier which increases the risk of a tree or branch falling when there is a vehicle in its path. Denby Dale Road, at national speed limit and unlit, is particularly hazardous at night as a fallen tree might not be seen by drivers until it is too late.

With all this in mind, a short while ago we commissioned a roadside tree safety report which identified a number of potentially hazardous trees that needed removing. When we looked at the report on the ground, we decided that it would be prudent to go beyond its recommendations and remove not only the trees that were identified as immediately hazardous but those that may become so in the next few years.

Working with Coxley Treecare and Earnshaw & Taylor Tree Surgeons, we planned and undertook the work needed in as safe, efficient and rapid a manner as possible, future-proofing our roadside woods for years to come. None of the timber will go to waste as after drying for a year or so it will be processed for the firewood market. Smaller pieces are left in the woods to form valuable habitat for amphibians, insects, small mammals and fungi.

As responsible woodland owners, we regularly carry out work that we plan with the Forestry Commission. We thin our woods on a regular basis, giving the better trees the room they need to thrive and allowing light to return to the woodland floor, which encourages growth of the plants and shrubs there, enhancing the biodiversity value of the woodland. With a bit of luck, the woodland floor in the roadside areas recently cleared will reward us all in spring with stunning bluebell displays.

We would like to thank any road users who were inconvenienced by these essential works for their patience.