Work to prune or cut down infected trees is due to start because they pose a potential risk to the public.

New trees will be planted to replace the felled ones in Pendle.

A large number of the trees which have to be felled have ash dieback disease and other fungal infections, making them weak and brittle.

The programme of work to remove the trees is based on the stage of the disease and the risk they pose to the public.

This will include trees in Marsden Park in Nelson and others near Lake Burwain, Foulridge.

Councillor Nadeem Ahmed, leader of Pendle Borough Council, said: “Unfortunately, a lot of diseased trees need to be felled or pruned in all areas of Pendle.

“The decision was not taken lightly, but unfortunately there is no other way to deal with the disease and public safety is our priority."

The Council’s green spaces manager, Phil Riley, said: “A good number of the trees which need to come down are ash trees suffering with ash dieback, but there are trees of all species affected, including beech and sycamore.

“A lot of these trees were planted around the same time and sadly, with old age, are now suffering with fungal infections and rot."

The council has taken advice from a specialist independent tree consultant and where viable, will leave standing trunks for the benefit of birds, bats, insects and fungi.

Last year 4,300 trees were planted in Pendle with the help of volunteers, as part of the Pennine Lancashire Treescapes Project – PLanT.

The saplings included oak, hazel, rowan and cherry, which all help to reduce the impact of air pollution, improve river water quality and create new wildlife habitats.

Mr Riley added: “Due to the heatwave and drought in the summer, and some acts of vandalism, quite a few of these trees didn’t survive.

“We will be replacing them with 1,000 hazel, whitebeam, hawthorn, oak and beech saplings at Bank Park, Barnoldswick, Walverden Park in Nelson, Heyhead Park, Brierfield and other small pockets of woodland around the Borough.

“If you’d like to volunteer to help improve green spaces in Pendle, including tree planting, please email parks@pendle.gov.uk. We’d welcome your help."

Please visit the website for more details, including any changes due to the weather: www.pendle.gov.uk/parks and wear strong footwear and waterproofs.

Dates for volunteering events for January and February: 

  • Saturday January 28, 10am – 1pm, Gibb Hill, Nelson BB9 8DW – meet Phil Riley at the end of Gibb Hill Road for bridge building, ditch clearing and litter picking.
  • Thursday 2 and Saturday February 18, 10am – 2pm, Ball Grove Country Park, Colne BB8 7HG – meet Phil Riley and Chris McKee at the Spring Grove junction with Keighley Road for woodland management, thinning and coppicing. Bring a packed lunch.
  • Saturday February 11, 10am – 12 noon, Bank Street Park, Barnoldswick BB18 6AU – meet Chris McKee at the park for tree whip planting.
  •  Wednesday February 15, 1pm – 3pm, in front of Walverden Primary School, Nelson BB9 0TL – meet on Bracewell Street at the open space in front of the school for tree whip planting and litter picking.
  • Tuesday February 21, 1pm – 3pm, Heyhead Park, Brierfield BB9 5BP.  Meet Chris McKee at the playground on Park Drive for whip planting and litter picking.