WORK to replace dead and unsafe trees at Wilderswood is getting underway this month.
The project at the popular Horwich green space will see the removal of larch trees which have become infected with the disease Phytophthora ramorum.
A number of pine trees, both live and dead, will also be removed after concerns they would be susceptible to wind damage if left exposed.
The move comes after Bolton Council received a Statutory Plant Health Notice from the Forestry Commission, requiring action to address the presence of the disease.
The council says the wood will be replanted with a mixture of broad-leafed trees, which will improve the area’s biodiversity and contribute to its aim of tackling climate change.
Adele Warren, council executive cabinet member for environmental services delivery, said the local authority was committed to making the borough “cleaner and greener”.
She said: “The planned work at Wilderswood will help us achieve both these objectives by removing diseased and dangerous trees with healthier and more diverse alternatives.
“This wider range of species will increase biodiversity, capture more carbon and contribute to our ongoing efforts to reduce the impact of climate change.”
The council says disruption will be kept to a minimum, but public access to the work areas will be restricted for safety reasons.