The safety work will be tacking ash dieback disease
The council shared the announcement last week(Image: South Gloucestershire Council StreetCare on Facebook)
A woodland in Chipping Sodbury will be closed until later this month to allow for emergency work to tackle dangerous trees to take place, the council has announced.
Ridge Wood has been shut for the completion of works to tackle ash dieback disease, South Gloucestershire Council said.
It added that it would be working closely with the landowner, Heidelberg Materials, who are employing the tree contractors directly, to “ensure the safety of both the public and the workers”.
The works will be carried out under the appropriate wildlife license agreements with independent ecologists on site, the council explained.
It added in a statement: “We would like to thank you for your patience and understanding whilst this vital safety work has been taking place.
“Over the Easter weekend, from today (Thursday, April 17 to Tuesday, April 22, the footpath will be open to allow access for the public.
“After Tuesday, April 29th, any remaining work required will be completed later in the year – along with an “extensive programme of replanting works”.
Ridge Wood is a long strip of woodland running along the Chipping Sodbury/Yate boundary near the old Barnwood quarry.
It is made up of 4.8 hectares of broad-leaved woodland and remnants of Victorian parkland trees – and contains a small number of larger trees like lime and wellingtonia. Underneath the mature trees is a canopy of hazel, wych elm, and blackthorn.
The site is home to tawny owls, sparrowhawks, woodpeckers, treecreepers, and bullfinches, the council states. It is cared for by the Friends of Ridge Wood group – which is made up of residents who help to manage the nature reserve.
They organise events throughout the year and run practical work days to help enhance the biodiversity and raise awareness for the woodland.
In October, Heidelberg Materials announced that a hazardous tree survey of the woodland found that many ash trees were affected by disease.
They said: “This means that over time the diseased trees are likely to become brittle, drop branches and the most affected trees will eventually die and collapse.”
The statement explained that the work was expected to take up to eight months and would involve “removing many trees identified as posing a potential hazard”.
At the time, Alexandra Hemming, senior landscape architect at Heidelberg Materials, said: “We do need to stress that tree felling is hazardous.”
She added: “To enable the contractors to carry out their work safely and to ensure the public is protected, access to some paths across our Chipping Sodbury land holding will be suspended while tree felling is being carried out and banksmen/sentries will be posted to ensure the safety of users.” Hemming urged those using the paths for recreational purposes to adhere to any temporary closure notices issued.