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.

We're committed to protecting the natural environment that surrounds our roads. We're responsible for 30,000 hectares of land and we want to foster a rich biodiversity across our soft estate.

Trees are a very important part of this, whether we plant them ourselves or they're growing naturally on our land.

We manage trees on our land through their whole lifecycle, to control safety risk and maximise their environmental value. This is why our tree specialists carry out regular inspections for safety and general woodland management.

We also have a legal obligation to ensure our strategic road network remains safe to road users and the trees in our care do not pose a hazard to adjacent property.

Regrettably, surveys by our specialists have found many ash trees are suffering from ash dieback disease. A large proportion are now dead or dying and pose a potential safety risk, leaving us with no alternative other than to make them safe or remove them.

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

What are we doing to address ash dieback?

Over the coming weeks and months, we'll remove or make safe ash trees identified for urgent action on our woodland estate in the Midlands to manage ash dieback disease. Care of our woodland is an ongoing process and further works will be needed in winter to address trees which are currently infected but assessed as requiring less urgent action.

While we're working in the area, we'll also carry out routine woodland management works to improve the condition of the woodland plots and encourage diversity and fresh growth in the coming years. Where appropriate we will replant suitable native trees or shrubs such as hazel and hawthorn. Some areas will be left to regenerate naturally. The waste timber and most of the woodchip will be sent for processing by local timber merchants.

Project information

We'll be carrying out tree management works on the A46 between Shottery roundabout and Oversley Mill roundabout in the New Year.

Dates are to be confirmed but we'll work under overnight road closures, between 9pm and 6am, including weekends. Clearly signed diversions will be in place.

Every effort will be made to ensure the works are done safely and disruption is kept to a minimum.

However, these works may generate some minor delays to journeys, and we would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.

We’re removing hazardous trees on the M50 westbound between junction 2 and junction 4. Once our work is complete, wherever possible we’ll replace trees that have been removed.

We’ll work overnight, between 9pm and 6am, from Monday 24 February to Wednesday 5 March 2025, weeknights only. To carry out our work safely, we’ll close the M50 westbound between junction 2 and junction 4 and install a fully signed diversion route via the A417 and the A40.

We’ll also need to carry out further hazardous tree removals on the eastbound carriageway.

This will be carried out overnight, between 9pm and 6am, from Thursday 6 March to Friday 14 March 2025, weeknights only. To carry out our work safely, we’ll close the M50 eastbound between junction 2 and junction 1. Traffic will be diverted via the A417, A40 and M5.

Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained throughout.

We’ll need to return to carry out further hazardous tree removals along the M50 and will update this page once dates are confirmed.

We’ll make every effort to ensure the impact on the local community and travelling public is kept to a minimum. We always aim to work to the programme, however unforeseen circumstances or adverse weather conditions may mean changes.