WORK to manage ash dieback will begin at Loggerheads Country Park this week.

Ash dieback, a highly destructive disease of trees in the genus known as Fraxinus, is spreading throughout North Wales and Denbighshire.

The UK native ash tree is particularly common across Denbighshire’s landscape and unfortunately, many of these trees, including some at Loggerheads, have been struck by the fungus named Hymenoscyphus fraxineus which causes ash dieback.

There is no known cure or method for preventing the transmission of this airborne fungus therefore alternative approaches are needed to deal with its impact.

As the common name of ash dieback suggests, infected trees typically die back.

Physical symptoms result in the form of wilting leaves and bark lesions.

READ MORE: Denbighshire County Council looks to combat ash dieback

The mortality of ash trees following infection can be very high.

On Thursday and Friday, January 19 and 20, the park will remain open, however the road to the overflow car park will be temporarily closed during the day and there may be some disruption on entering the main park area whilst work on trees around the entrance and boardwalk between the two car parks are carried out.

The bridleway that runs along the top of the park near Cadole will be closed and on Friday, traffic lights will be used on the A494 along the boundary of the park to manage some of the work, there will be some disruption to pedestrians using the pavement.

There will be a lot of tree work from now until the end of March around the country park and Denbighshire County Council advises visitors to follow signage and respect any path closures or diversions they come across for their own safety.

Visitors can also call into the visitor centre for more information before they start their walk, which is open between 10am and 4pm.

No work will take place at weekends.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Denbighshire's lead member for environment and transport, said: “Our focus has been on surveying ash trees in areas where diseased trees could potentially pose a risk to people in the area of the park.

"Risk assessments have also been carried out to ensure that resources are used wisely and that we only remove trees that could ultimately cause harm or damage.

“We would like to thank those using the park at this time for their patience while this important work is carried out.”

As this necessary felling programme progresses, more trees of alternative species will be planted, in suitable locations to reduce the impact on the landscape and biodiversity.