The Trust will be removing several dozen mature ash trees along the south western side of the wood within a three-hectare area. Ash dieback is a fungal disease, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, also known as ‘chalara’ and has been affecting woodlands across the UK over the last decade. Visible symptoms include dead branches, blackening of leaves and discoloured stems, often with a diamond-shape lesion where a leaf was attached.  Trees will eventually drop limbs, collapse or fall as the tree rots from the inside.

The disease quickly compromises the structural strength of the tree making them potential hazards to visitors and those working in the woodland. If the trees are not removed before the disease spreads, it can become very hazardous to fell them safely. However, in areas with little public access and so no danger to the public, the Trust’s policy is to leave trees standing as dead wood is a valuable habitat in itself for beetles, bats and other wildlife. Some ash trees also show resistance to the disease.

All precautions are being put in place to ensure minimum disturbance to wildlife such as bats and dormice while the work takes place. Bat roost boxes have already been moved from the ash trees and relocated onto nearby oak trees by licenced bat officers and dormice and bat activity is also being carefully monitored throughout the works. The work is being carried out at this time of year to minimise disturbance to nesting birds and hibernating bats and dormice as well as to reduce impact on tracks and paths.

Where the trees are removed, a large new glade will be created where woodland edge plants and animals will thrive including silver washed fritillary and wood white butterflies. As younger trees and shrubs start to colonise the space, this will provide more bird nesting sites and improve the woodland habitat for dormice. Deadwood habitat will also be created which is particularly good for invertebrates and provides foraging for hedgehogs and badgers. We will also be planting new trees many of these will be saplings which have grown up in other parts of the wood which we will redistribute.

Reserves Manager Esther Clarke said:

“Lea and Pagets wood has been dominated by ash trees for decades, maybe centuries, and it will be interesting to see which other species flourish and come to fill the spaces left behind. The wood also includes many fine sessile oak trees and an understorey of hazel and field maple, together with some hawthorn, holly, crab-apple and spindle. A new mix of trees and shrubs should make the woodland more diverse and resilient and ensure the overall health of the woodland into the future.”

Situated on the slopes of the Woolhope Dome Landscape, Lea & Pagets Wood is arguably one of the finest ancient, semi-natural, broad-leaved woodlands in this area. Large and spectacular drifts of bluebells make a fine show in springtime, mixed in with wood anemone, ramsons and early purple orchids. You can also spot herb paris, wild daffodil, sanicle, wild liquorice and greater butterfly orchid.

Lea & Pagets is home to a small population of pied flycatchers and many warblers. Alongside common woodland butterflies, there are also white admirals and wood whites and this is a good place to see the spectacular silver-washed fritillary. There is a thriving population of dormice; foxes and badgers are present, while groups of fallow deer are often glimpsed.