Highways crews in Gloucestershire are removing infected trees and replanting two trees for every diseased tree cut down around the county.
Last year, Gloucestershire County Council launched the Ash Dieback project to tackle the effects of the disease within the county.
More than 3,000 dangerous ash trees have been removed during the first year of the project. By the end of 2021, crews will be estimated to have removed 3,300 infected ash trees.
Ash dieback is a disease that causes leaf loss and dying branches, and can lead to the death of a tree. The disease attacks ash trees quickly and there currently is no prevention or treatment available.
Surveys of areas where trees have been felled are showing positive results with lots of signs of natural regeneration which is great for the county’s biodiversity.
The council plans to replant 7,780 trees and 2,410 hedging plants during this month and March.
Parish and town councils have also been contacted to help identify suitable sites or planting areas in their locality.
Cllr Nigel Moor, cabinet member for environment and planning, said: “Cutting down any tree is a huge loss to our county’s biodiversity, but this is something we must do to stop more ash trees becoming diseased. We are fully committed to stopping this disease and saving as many trees as we can. Undertaking a major programme of replanting two trees for each infected ash tree felled will also help us reach our target of becoming a carbon neutral county.”