The Malvern Hills and Commons have a wonderful range of trees - within the wooded slopes of the Hills, in hedgerows and in our urban green spaces.

One of the most common native species is the ash, which can make up as much as two thirds of the trees found in some of our woodlands. However, these trees are now infected and suffering from ash dieback disease which has swept across the UK.

There is no cure for this disease which is estimated to kill 60-80% of all ash trees and will have a devastating impact on our iconic landscape and woodland habitats.

To keep our visitors and local residents safe and manage our changing woodlands, we must remove dead and severely diseased trees where they post an unacceptable risk. Infected ash trees become brittle those around our car parks, popular paths, roads and properties must be removed for public safety. The surveying and tree works across this area come at a huge cost to our small charity. Current forecasts are that over £60,000 per year is required for the next 5 years to deal with this crisis.

In response we're fundraising to help cover the costs of removing unsafe ash trees and to replant and replace lost trees where needed within the landscape.

Updates

-- 6th January 2025 - Work will begin shortly to remove Ash trees with significant infections of ash dieback disease at British Camp and the A449, Holywell Road and Foley Terrace. Individual and small groups of ash trees will also be removed across the MHT estate this winter for safety.

-- 23rd September 2024 - A huge thank you to Francis of Malvern and their customers for raising £377.00 for our ash dieback fund. We're extremely grateful for this amazing support.

-- 23rd August 2024 - We're delighted to announce that Francis of Malvern are hosting a fundraising event for our ash dieback fund on Monday 26th August from 10am to 2pm. Please support this fantastic event and the future of our local woodlands.

-- 30th July 2024 - This year's safety survey of ash trees by staff has now been completed and we are putting together the plan of works to attend to ash trees with severe infections. These additional tree safety works will be completed this winter along with our routine safety programme.

-- 6th November 2023 - The results of this year's tree safety survey by an independent arboriculturalist do not make for happy reading. A large number of ash trees with severe infections of Ash Dieback Disease have been identified for removal and will be felled this winter. A large number of these can be found near British Camp car park. Please support us by making a donation to help us respond to this tree health crisis.

-- 24th July 2023 - This year's ash dieback surveys have now been completed by staff. Trees with severe infections have been identified at British Camp, the Purlieu and the Community Woodland, Townsend Way. The work to remove these trees for safety will take place this winter.

-- 1st May 2023 - Our tree safety work for this winter has been completed. This has included infected and unsafe ash trees at Colwall, Sherrards Green and Link Common.

-- 3rd December 2022 - Surveys over the summer recorded that ash trees are continuing to decline. Work is underway to remove ash trees with severe infections near properties and roads where they post a risk to the public.

Sadly trees on Holywell Road, Upper Colwall and near British Camp car park have all been identified for felling. All this work is in addition to our routine tree safety work. Please continue to support us.

-- 30th November 2022 - Join us at a fundraising concert on the 16th December at Little Malvern Priory to support our tree replacement funds as we respond to ash dieback disease https://www.malvernhills.org.uk/latest-news/20221130-fundraising-concert/

-- 2nd Dec 2021 - The first phase of our ash dieback work has been completed. Around 40 ash trees showing severe signs of infection were removed from high risk locations near to roadsides, including Wells Road, Wyche Road and Hollybush Roughs. Trees were also removed for public safety around Gardiner's Quarry and Earnslaw car parks.

Further ash trees have been identified for removal at Foley Terrace and West Malvern Road this winter after showing advanced signs of the disease.

We're already reporting the poorly ash trees likely to be included in next year's winter works. Please donate to help us deal with this ongoing challenge.