A public Wroughton woodland that has been closed to facilitate the removal of diseased ash trees is to reopen to the public

Clouts Wood Reserve, located in the village on the outskirts of Swindon, was closed in August as part of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust's (WWT) efforts to combat ash dieback. 

Although the organisation says that work has not yet been completed, it has confirmed that one of the circular paths will be reopened to the public 'in the next two weeks'. 

However, it has also wanted that other areas will still remain off-limits due to the possibility of trees falling. 

In a letter sent to Wroughton Parish Council by the WWT a spokesperson said: "We have been working to remove diseased ash trees within the woodland. Please note that due to the recent wet weather, work on the ash dieback tree removal is not yet fully complete. 

"The majority have now been felled and the risk from falling diseased trees has been significantly reduced. 

"Those with a healthy canopy have been left. But in some areas, we have not yet been able to access with machinery and some trees remain.

"Therefore, we will need to keep some paths closed and post signs warning of the dangers."

Visitors have been warned that piles of logs may be found near the pathways and that they might remain uneven and slippery in places.

"For their safety, we ask that visitors keep to the designated, signposted paths," the WWT spokesperson added.

"We shall monitor the conditions of paths and react accordingly.

"We hope that people will enjoy renewed access to Clouts Wood, and we will look to open more paths as conditions improve."

The Woodland Trust has warned that ash dieback will kill up to 80% of ash trees across the UK.

It adds: "This will cost billions, the effects will be staggering. It will change the landscape forever and threaten many species which rely on ash. 

Ash dieback is a fungus which originated in Asia, and while it has no real impact on its native trees the Manchurian or Chinest ash, its introduction into Europe has devastated the European ash. 

The fungus overwinters in leaf litter on the ground and produces spores which land on ash leaves and penetrate into the leaf and beyond, eventually growing inside the tree and blocking its water transport systems causing it to die. 

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