Thin Strip Of Hjghway Verge On The South Side Of Humphrey Gate Taddington

Proposal

A line of self-set mixed species consisting of sycamore and ash alongside a dry stone wall on the southern side of Humphrey Gate heading up the hill out of Taddington to the common land within the Conservation Area. There are ash in Stage 4 ash dieback and dead and decaying stems dotted along the narrow highway verge, counted around 110 stems at around 15 to 20dbh and 10m height up to the common land. These stems have been marked red as they are within reach of the highway. The line of ash continues round the outskirts of the common land and propose to fell ash likely to fall onto the dry stone wall as well, approx 90 stems. This road is hierarchy level 5 so is inspected every couple of years and to maintain highway safety these tree works are needed. From a character and appearance and amenity value, the young trees provide much needed habitat for wildlife and a green corridor into and out of Taddington given the treeless nature of the surrounding drystone walled pasture farmland. Trees felled on the narrow verge beside the highway will be allowed to naturally regenerate and replanting with native mixed species on the outer edge of the common land where trees have been felled.