Bolton: Trees in Queens Park felled due to ash dieback disease

Tree surgeons were spotted cutting down trees in Queens Park on Sunday, January 28, and it has now been confirmed they were cut down due to ash dieback disease.

According to council officials, the trees close to the café needed to be cut down due to the disease which first impacts the top of the tree – representing a ‘serious risk’ of branches falling.

No healthy trees were removed.

A resident, who does not want to be named, was out walking and spotted the trees being felled.

They said: “I was in the park on Sunday and saw the trees being felled. There were quite a few people watching from the cafe.

The trees being felled (Image: Henry Lisowski)“I asked one of the men felling the trees why they were doing it and they said it was due to ash dieback disease.

“He told me it was a priority because of the close location with the cafe. I was quite impressed with the crane they used with the claw; it saved them having to climb up."

A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: “Unfortunately, the trees were found to be infected with ash dieback, leaving us no choice but to remove them in the interest of public safety.

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“Ash dieback impacts the top of the tree first, representing a serious risk of branches falling from a significant height.

“Our teams regularly monitor trees on council-owned land to ensure they are healthy and safe."

The trees cut down (Image: Bolton Council)Ash dieback is a highly destructive fungal tree disease that causes leaf loss, dead branches, and canopy decline. 

Almost a quarter of trees in the grounds of Bolton Parish Church had to be felled in 2020 after contracting the deadly fungus.

And most recently ash trees along the side of the M61 were felled after it was found they had the Ash dieback fungus. 

Surveys by National Highways specialists found many Ash trees alongside the M61 were deteriorating.

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on X @chloewjourno.