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Ash dieback is easy to underestimate until a tree is already unsafe. The risk is often not hidden deep inside woodland. It is on the edge of a lane, beside a school entrance, next to a shared access track, or along a boundary that nobody manages day to day.
That is where ash dieback becomes a practical safety issue. The question is not only whether an ash tree is infected. It is whether that tree could fall into a road, across a footpath, onto a car park, or into a place people use every day.
Ash dieback is a highly destructive disease of ash trees, especially the UK’s native common ash, according to Forest Research. It can weaken the crown, kill branches and leave trees vulnerable to secondary decay.
Near roads and footpaths, that matters. A tree in a field corner may be low risk if there is no public access nearby. The same tree beside a lane, entrance, playground, housing access route or public right of way needs a more careful decision. Diseased ash can become brittle, making both the tree and the work around it more difficult to manage safely.
Ash dieback is not the only issue to watch for, but it is one of the most significant common tree diseases affecting land management in the UK. The Tree Council says the disease is likely to infect up to 80% of UK ash trees, so waiting for every tree to become obviously dangerous is not a plan. It is a backlog of accidents waiting to happen.
The first job is simple, but often missed. Before deciding what work is needed, identify where the ash trees are.
That means looking beyond the obvious areas. Ash trees are often found in hedgerows, on old estate boundaries, along access tracks, around car parks, beside watercourses and on strips of land that do not sit neatly within one operational team’s remit.
Useful early checks include:
This stage creates a clear starting point.
Ash dieback management is much harder when every tree is dealt with as a one-off emergency. A basic record helps you prioritise risk, plan budgets and avoid missing awkward boundary trees.
Record each tree or group of trees with:
This is especially important where several parties are affected. One organisation may own the land, another may maintain the access route and another may receive complaints when branches drop. Clear records reduce confusion and help everyone understand why action is needed.
They can also support future funding or grant discussions, particularly where roadside trees or public rights of way are involved.
Not every ash tree with ash dieback needs to be felled immediately. Some trees can be monitored. Others may need pruning, staged works or removal. The right decision depends on condition, location and the consequences of failure.
A practical assessment should consider:
This is where professional judgement matters. The aim is to manage foreseeable risk in a proportionate way.
Ignoring trees because they sit just outside a main operational area can quickly become costly. The same principle applies when neglecting trees on commercial properties: risk often builds gradually, then becomes urgent at the least convenient moment.
Once trees have been identified and assessed, prioritisation should be based on safety and practicality.
The highest priority trees are usually those:
A smaller tree in a busy location may be more urgent than a larger tree in a low-use area. That is why prioritisation should be based on risk, not size alone.
This approach also helps avoid unnecessary removals. Where a tree can be retained safely, it may continue to provide habitat and landscape value. Where it cannot, early planning makes the work safer and more controlled.
Ash dieback tree work can be more complex than routine pruning or removal. Diseased ash can be brittle, and heavily affected trees may not be suitable for normal climbing methods. Access may need machinery, specialist equipment or a different working method.
Before work begins, think about:
Great Oaks works across Preston, Lancashire and the wider North West, supporting tree surgery, grounds maintenance and arboricultural projects in safety-critical settings. Our experienced tree surgeons can help plan practical tree works where access, public safety and site constraints all need to be considered together.
A diseased tree can still be valuable habitat. Ash trees may support nesting birds, bats, deadwood invertebrates, lichens and fungi. Even when removal is necessary, ecological checks should be part of the plan.
The key is timing. Leaving ecology until the day before work can delay the whole project. It is better to identify likely constraints during the survey and planning stage.
Checks may be needed where trees have:
The 2026 ash dieback grant guidance includes support for European protected species surveys where these are needed to plan felling and restocking without harming or disturbing protected species. That makes ecology part of the practical sequence, not an optional extra.
Roadside ash work needs more than a chainsaw and a date in the diary. If a tree affects a road, lane, car park entrance, pavement or public right of way, the work may need signage, temporary closures, traffic management or liaison with the relevant authority.
This is often where costs and disruption increase. It is also where good planning makes the biggest difference.
For eligible cases, support may be available for items including tree condition surveys, traffic management, road closures, European protected species surveys, restocking and facilitation for group applications. The ash dieback grant does not fund the cost of felling ash trees, so budgets need to separate funded planning items from the physical removal work.
This distinction matters. A landowner may receive support for the survey, traffic management or restocking, but still need to budget for the actual tree work.
Ash dieback management should not end with removal. Roadside trees, hedgerow ash and boundary trees often provide screening, shade, landscape structure and habitat. Once they are gone, gaps can be very visible.
Replanting should be planned around the site, not treated as a like-for-like replacement exercise. Consider:
The ash dieback grant supports restocking and capital items to replace trees with different species that are more likely to withstand pests, diseases and climate change. For hedgerows and trees outside woodland, it also notes that restocking should be at least 3 to 1 to allow trees to establish.
The aim is not just replacement. It is long-term resilience.
The official guidance on the ash dieback grant focuses strongly on group applications. Ash dieback rarely follows ownership boundaries neatly, and working with other landowners can allow you to reduce overall costs and prevent the dangers associated with diseased trees.
Group action can help with:
A group application could, for example, involve both private landowners and local authorities, with the grant being used to support a professional survey, road closure, protected species survey and restocking.
Who is responsible for ash trees on a boundary?
Responsibility depends on ownership, control and the specific circumstances. If a tree is on your land, you should take reasonable steps to manage the risk it presents. Where a tree is on a boundary or shared access route, it is sensible to clarify ownership early and keep a written record of decisions.
Do all trees with ash dieback need to be removed?
No. Some trees can be monitored, especially if symptoms are limited and the tree is in a low-risk location. Trees close to roads, public access routes or buildings need more careful assessment because the consequences of failure are higher.
Can affected ash trees be retained for wildlife?
Sometimes, yes. Retention may be possible where the tree does not pose an unacceptable risk. The Tree Council’s ash dieback guidance highlights the ecological value of ash and the importance of retaining trees where safe to do so. Where trees must be removed, there may still be opportunities to retain deadwood habitat in suitable locations.
Is there funding for ash dieback work?
There may be support for eligible dangerous ash trees along roadsides and public rights of way in England through the Tree Health Pilot. The March 2026 guidance covers items such as surveys, traffic management, road closures, protected species surveys, restocking and facilitation. It does not fund the cost of felling.
When should traffic management be considered?
Early. If a tree could affect a road, entrance, footpath or public right of way, traffic and access planning should be built into the project from the start. Leaving it late can delay work, increase costs and create avoidable safety issues.
Ash dieback work near roads and footpaths is not routine tree work. It can involve fragile trees, public access, traffic constraints, ecological considerations, reporting, insurance and compliance.
Great Oaks is an ARB Approved Contractor, independently assessed through the Arboricultural Association’s recognised contractor scheme. Our wider accreditations include Constructionline Gold, Once For All SSIP and ROSPA membership, supporting our work in commercial, public-sector, infrastructure and safety-critical environments.
That combination matters when ash dieback is close to people, roads and property. The work needs to be planned, evidenced and carried out safely.
Ash dieback does not become easier to manage by waiting. Boundary trees, shared access routes and awkward roadside locations are often the ones that need the early advice and careful planning.
If you have ash trees near roads, footpaths, access routes or public areas, Great Oaks can help you move from uncertainty to a clear, safety-led plan. Speak to Great Oaks about tree surveys, ash dieback management, safe tree work and replanting across Preston, Lancashire and the wider North West.
07884 274693
office@greatoakstreeservices.co.uk
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