Council maps diseased ash trees posing risks across city

Thousands of diseased ash trees on private and public land have been identified as in need of removal owing to safety concerns, particularly around highways.

- by Harriet Sutton

An interactive map has been created to help landowners understand if they need to take action.

The trees are infected with ash dieback disease or showing other defects and, if not removed, they are at risk of collapsing on to roads, causing disruption and potential harm.

Leeds City Council has used AI technology to locate ash trees along the highways, and their condition has then been assessed by staff on the ground.

Several hundred trees have already been removed safely and the council now plans to plant five trees for each one that is removed on council land.

The council has a duty to ensure that no trees under its control put people or property at unreasonable risk.

The same applies to private landowners and trees on their land.