Ash dieback in the Midlands

Ash dieback is affecting trees on the land we manage. We're taking action to slow its spread and make sure trees along our strategic road network remain safe.

Ash dieback is a highly destructive fungal disease of ash trees. It causes leaf loss, dead branches and canopy decline in infected trees.

Our surveys have revealed large numbers of dead or dying Ash trees. These are a potential safety risk to people on or near our road network.

How we're dealing with ash dieback

We need to remove or make safe ash trees identified as needing urgent action on our Midlands woodland estate.

We'll keep our work to a minimum - only removing what's necessary to keep people safe.

While we're working, we'll also:

  • improve the condition of woodland plots
  • encourage diversity and fresh growth in the future

Where possible, we'll replant with native trees or shrubs like hazel and hawthorn.

We'll leave some areas to regenerate naturally.

We'll send waste timber and most woodchip for processing by local timber merchants.

Learn more about how we manage trees on our land.

Project information

A38 Little Eaton to M1 junction 28 - 8 December 2025 to 30 January 2026

We won't work on:

  • 18 December 2025
  • 22 December 2025 to 2 January 2026
  • 5 January 2026

Closures

8 December to 14 January – A38 northbound closure from Little Eaton junction to the A610 Ripley 

Closed overnight (8pm - 6am) weeknights

A38 northbound Little Eaton to Ripley diversion.

15 January to 16 January – A38 northbound closure from A610 Ripley to the A61 Alfreton

Closed overnight (8pm - 6am) weeknights

A38 northbound Ripley to Alfreton diversion.

19 January to 21 January – A38 southbound closure from M1 Junction 28 to the A61 Alfreton

Closed overnight (8pm - 6am) weeknights

A38 southbound M1 junction 28 to Alfreton diversion.

22 January to 30 January – A38 southbound closure from A610 Ripley to Little Eaton junction

Closed overnight (8pm - 6am) weeknights

A38 southbound Ripley to Little Eaton diversion.

Please remember that closures can change at short notice. You can check the latest information on our daily closures page or find live travel information on our Traffic England site. Our travel alerts give details of live incidents on our network.

We're removing hazardous trees on the A49 and A46 at various locations. 

We’ll work overnight, between 9pm and 6am, from Monday 24 November to Friday 28 November 2025 as below: 

Leominster:

24 and 25 November, between 9pm and 6am

  • A49 Leominster, on Ludlow Road – multiway traffic lights will be in place.

Stockton:

26 November, between 9pm and 6am

  • A49 Stockton on Ludlow Road – multiway traffic lights will be in place. 

Bromfield:

26 and 27 November, between 9pm and 6am

  • A49 Bromfield on Bromfield Road – multiway traffic lights will be in place.

Lower Fulbrook:

27 November, between 9pm and 6am

  • A46 Lower Fullbrook – lane 1 closure will be in place.

We’ll be removing hazardous trees on the A49 at various locations between Rocks Green and Ford Bridge.

We’ll work overnight, between 9pm and 6am, from Monday 8 December to Thursday 11 December 2025 as below: 

8 December, between 9pm and 6am 

  • A49 Leominster near the junction A4112 – 2 - way traffic lights will be in place.

9 - 11 December, between 9pm and 6am 

  • A49 Rocks Green, near the junction A4117 – 4 - way traffic lights will be in place. 

9 December, between 9pm and 6am 

  • A49 Ashton, near the junction with Hundred Lane – 2 - way traffic lights will be in place.

10 December, between 9pm and 6am

  • A49 Ashton, near the junction with Eye Lane – 3 - way traffic lights will be in place.

11 December, between 9pm and 6am

  • A46 Ford Bridge, near the junction with The Bury – 2 – way traffic lights will be in place.

We will be working overnight from 24 November to 18 December 2025, between 9pm and 6am, Monday to Friday.

To work safely we’ll work under the following traffic management:

  • Thursday 4 December – Thursday 18 December – total closure of the A49 Dinmore Hill

Diversion route map

Documents

Traffic information

Information about scheduled roadworks and events on our motorways and major roads.

Contact us

0300 123 5000

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