113 trees are going to be chopped down in Ashtown to stop a "highly contagious" disease called fireblight from spreading.
Fireblight mainly affects members of the rose family including apple trees, pear trees and hawthorn. Samples were taken from a number of dead trees on Abbey Drive to check for the blight, and they tested positive for the highly contagious plant disease.
Ireland is required under EU law to act when an outbreak is discovered as fireblight an also impact the agriculture and nursery sectors. The 113 trees are being cut down from Riverston Abbey to prevent further outbreaks.
Read more: Fed up residents consider human 'blockade' on bridge to stop everyday violence
They are being felled by a tree surgeon from Monday 3 October with Dublin City Council assuring the public that all tools used will be thoroughly cleaned. All the tree parts will be transported in sealed trucks to be incinerated to prevent further contamination.
Thankfully, the first of the replacement trees will be planted this winter. Dublin City Council said: "Replacement tree planting will begin this winter and will continue for three to five years.
"A series of 36 locations have been identified for planting this winter by the Dublin City Council's Parks, Biodiversity and Landscape Services team with a variety of tree species to avoid a monoculture of trees which might be similarly affected in the future by the spread of a disease."
Read next:
Huge government update on Dublin's controversial €25m whitewater rafting project
City centre locals 'terrified' to leave home after man hit with wooden plank
Car ban on South William Street a step closer after inclusion in development plan
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.
