Hundreds of trees planted to tackle fungal disease

A National Trust team has planted 1,300 trees to restore a landscape devastated by a fungal disease.

Parts of Ickworth Estate near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk have been affected by ash dieback disease, which causes the deterioration and eventual death of trees.

Rangers worked through the winter, planting mostly oak trees they hoped would improve diversity and remain for centuries to come.

Lead ranger Dee Gathorne-Hardy said the disease had been "devastating", with just a small number of trees having shown resilience to it.

"Around 20% of the woodland at Ickworth is made up of ash trees and we've already lost a large proportion of these trees to ash dieback," Mr Gathorne-Hardy said.

"Only a small number of the ash trees are showing resilience at present, so it's been devastating for the woodland here, as it has across the country."

The disease weakens branches and trunks, which then need to be removed as they become unsafe.

"While it is very sad to lose so many trees, we're taking the opportunity to replant the woodland with a variety of different species, which will improve the diversity and health of the habitat long-term," he added.

About a third of the 1,800-acre (728 hectares) Ickworth Estate is covered by woodland.

It is also home to about 1,500 ancient and veteran trees, some as old as 700 years, providing habitats for a wide range of wildlife.

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.