THE much-loved avenue of beech trees at Kingston Lacy is to have further work carried out to it this month.

From February 15, dead wood will be removed from 80 of the mature trees, originally planted in 1835. Temporary traffic controls will be introduced on the B3082 and the work will take around two weeks.

The trees are collapsing and dying from a combination of old age, disease and climate changes and need to have branches removed or possibly be felled if their condition requires it.

Last year the National Trust removed 21 trees and diseased limbs were lopped from a further 78.

Hornbeams are being planted as work is carried out and it is likely that removal and replanting will continue for a further 30-years.

“We have a real responsibility to manage the avenue as best we can,” said Nigel Chalk, gardens and countryside manager, who has lived on the estate all his life.

“I’m sure that those people who planted it back in the 1830s would appreciate the work we are doing to manage this – the avenue was never going to live forever.”