Logging operation now complete
Update (July 2023): As reported by Bradford District Park, the “the main statutory felling and rhododendron clearing work on the St Ives Estate has been completed, allowing road closures and mid-week restrictions to be lifted."
The work into repairing paths and replanting trees has now started.
A number of trees in the St Ives Estate have unfortunately been infected with a disease called “Phytophthora Ramorum", aka “Larch Tree Disease". This is a disease which spreads rapidly and if not dealt with can decimate entire sections of mature and established wooded area. One of the main hosts of this disease are rhododendrons and the estate has many of them. Over the past decade, there has been many attempts at clearing this invasive species. However, too many trees in the western side of the estate, between Coppice Pond and Keighley Road known as Lady Blantyre’s Wood have been infected and will need to be removed.
And because heavy machinery will be required to do the clear out, all paths in this area of the estate will be closed when engines are at work.
This path runs on the western side of the estate in Lady Blantyre's Wood
When are the paths likely to be closed?
Logging to start Mar 1, finish Sep 1, 2023.
Look at signs posted around the estate for further information during your visit.
Is the estate closed during the logging operation?
No, the estate will still be accessible to visitors. Only the western side of the estate will be affected by path and road closure as follows:
- So, starting Monday to Friday, the entrance on Keighley Road will be closed for visitors and traffic passing through, but don't worry, it'll be open on the weekends. However, the free parking on Keighley Road and the paid parking at Coppice Pond won't be available until the work is done. But, if you use the entrance on Bingley Road, the free parking and paid parking at Low Park, Play Area, and the golf club public parking will be running normally.
- Just a heads up, the footpaths and bridleways in Lady Blantyre's Wood and Coppice Pond will also be closed Monday to Friday while they're doing some forestry work, but this shouldn't cause any problems for golfers on the estate.
What happened last time in Betty's Wood
Deforestation of Bettys Wood in St Ives Estate to prevent the further spread of a disease called phytophthora ramorum
Sign warning visitors at St Ives Bingley that tree felling has now been completed
It's not the first time the estate is being cleared out of infected trees. In 2017, the area on the Eastern side of the estate known as Betty's Wood had all its larch trees removed. At the time, more than 1000 trees were logged. Since then, new saplings have been planted by volunteers and the area is starting to recover.
Read more:
[City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council – 7th February 2023] Council takes action on diseased trees at St Ives Estate
[Telegraph & Argus – 7th February 2023] 4,000 trees in woodland to be felled to prevent spread of disease
[Telegraph & Argus – 19th January 2019] Dozens turn out to restore woodland at St Ives, Bingley
[Telegraph & Argus – 20th September 2017] Tree felling under way at Betty's Wood in St Ives Estate, Harden, Bingley
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