Hikers who love the Essenlaan in the Vennep walking area of Venneperhout should visit it a few more times this weekend. From next week it will be bare. Staatsbosbeheer has decided to cut down all 550 ash trees, because most of them suffer from ash tree branch mortality. There will be new trees, but no ash trees.
Staatsbosbeheer has conducted soil research to determine which trees will thrive best in the fairly wet walking area. The new trees must also be able to withstand (strong) wind. That is why ultimately the ash was not chosen, but the alder, lime, hornbeam, plane tree, cherry and maple were chosen.
Dangerous
The forest rangers do not want to repeat the mistake made when planting the avenue in 1990. By choosing one tree species, the chance that a disease will spread is much greater. That is why a mixed avenue of trees is now being planted.
The tree felling starts next Monday and will last all week. Staatsbosbeheer does not want to wait any longer, because dangerous situations could arise. The aggressive fungal disease causes the trees to slowly die. When the wind blows hard, large branches break off much more quickly or the tree even falls over. Ash dieback cannot be controlled.
Detour
Walkers will be able to walk around the area next week, but a different part will be cordoned off each time. The cycle path will be closed. Cyclists are diverted.
The trunks of the felled ash trees are reused. The rest of the wood is shredded and processed into press plates and biomass. The essenlaan will be bare for a year, because the new trees will not be planted until the autumn of 2024. That is the best time to plant trees for clay soils.