A LARGE number of trees will be felled after The National Trust found a fungal disease in all the woodlands they manage on the Isle of Wight.

The team is having to take action to combat ash dieback.

The works will take place in February, which will mean temporary closures of some rights of way and a temporary road closure from Ventnor to Shanklin.

Ash dieback is caused by a fungus called Hymenoscyphus fraxineus and the disease causes ash trees to slowly die, drop limbs or branches, collapse or fall.

Robin Lang, National Trust Isle of Wight countryside manager, said: “On the Isle of Wight we care for hundreds of hectares of woodland. Ash trees are a common feature in these woods as well as in the wider landscape.

"Sadly, ash dieback is now present in all the woodlands we manage on the Island. Over the spring and summer, our ranger team assessed and monitored the health of the ash trees.

"We have identified a large number of trees that pose a risk to public safety and unfortunately are now in urgent need of felling. “

Not all affected ash trees will be felled. Wherever it's safe to do so, the trust will leave both standing and fallen deadwood so wildlife can benefit.

Robin said: "Despite the tragic loss of trees, we'll be seizing the opportunity to increase the biodiversity in areas hardest hit. "Where we've removed dying ash trees, we'll leave most areas to naturally regenerate as woodland, or in the case at Tennyson Down, using the clearance as an opportunity to restore rare chalk grassland where the soil type is suitable.”

The closures are likely to last around a week each.

  • Tennyson Down, footpath T24 from High Down car park to Moons Hill quarry will be closed from February 21.
  • Bridleway SS9a from Cowleaze to Luccombe Down will be closed for five days from February 7.
  • The A3055 between Ventnor and Shanklin at Luccombe Copse will be closed from February 14 with diversions in place.
  • Newtown will have traffic management in place.
  • Other smaller areas of felling in Ventnor and St Helens will have traffic management in place while felling is taking place.