Trees have had to be felled at Allington Hill due to ash die back.

Many ash trees around the football pitch area are being removed and were moved by Toby Hoad and his horses last Friday.

In March 2004, a new wood was created in Cooper's Field on the side of Allington Hill. One thousand trees, including 500 ash and 400 oak with a mixture of 20 each of crabb apple, field maple, willow, hazel and gelder rose.

Cathy Harvey, of Allington Hillbillies, which looks after the hill and field, said: "Ash grows much quicker than oak and this has meant many oaks have died due to lack of light, are weak and unhealthy.

"Last year we saw the first signs of ash die back, which now has a hold on all the ash trees. Sadly, next week, we will be felling even more ash.

"I can hear people saying, 'but standing dead wood is good for nature, let nature take its course, some of them may be resistant to ash die back'.

"There are many experiments around the country, including a Woodland Trust wood which has been closed to the public. This is because ash becomes very brittle once infected, branches and trees can fall without warning.

"Copper's Wood is in a very public place with many paths through and around the wood. It's a man-made problem, too dangerous to leave to nature and we need to sort it out. This does give us the opportunity to correct the mistakes, give the trees room to grow and plant fewer, and a good diversity of trees and shrubs that nature and humans will benefit from.

"We have done this as sensitively as possible, using horses to extract the timber, causing less damage to the woodland floor. We have been able to sell the timber to pay for this essential work. This means that Allington Parish Council, who lease the land, will not accuse any costs, nor hopefully the volunteers' funds.

"A tree pack is due next week with a mixture of alder, rowen, cherry, aspen and field maple. This will improve the diversity of the woodland."

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