AROUND 200 trees are facing the axe after being struck down by a ‘destructive’ plant disease.

Cumbria Wildlife Trust will commence conservation work next week at Craggy Wood, Staveley, after the trust identified cases of larch dieback (Phytophthora ramorum) in the woodland as well as in other woods in the Kentmere valley.

It now means hundreds of larch trees are to be felled and extracted to prevent further spread of the deadly disease.

“This is a highly destructive disease and can kill over 100 species of plant,” said Danni Chalmers, Staveley woodlands officer, Cumbria Wildlife Trust.

“Unfortunately, this means we need to either kill the larch trees or fell them and extract.

"After lengthy discussions it has been decided to fell and extract the trees to stop the disease spreading further and hopefully protect the remaining larch in the valley.

“Luckily there is only a small portion of Craggy that is planted with larch so the woodland on the whole will stay the same.

“Once felled, it will be lovely to see the area rewild and species grow back that may have been blocked out by the larch before and the diversity of the woodland flora and fauna will really increase in that area.”

To ensure people's safety while the works are carried out a new footpath has been put in place to divert visitors away from the work area.

Work commences on September 1 and could extend to October 31.

"During the felling and extraction time, to keep everyone safe and make sure the woods remain open for everyone to still enjoy, we have put in a path that leads left from the Craggy Wood gate and takes you up to the top path, just avoiding the work area," said Ms Chalmers,

"The felling work will commence on the September 1 for a month, but the extraction of the trees may continue up until the October 31, so we can try and do as little damage to the woods and surrounding field as possible."