Save the Armoy trees

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About Save the Armoy trees

Listed with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, these trees on the Bregagh Road just outside Armoy are under threat.

It would seem that there are many amateur and professional photographers who have either spent time capturing these trees, or who have them on their wish list

DON'T LET THEM GET PULLED DOWN

PRESERVING THE FUTURE OF BALLYMONEY BEECH TREES

Planning Service have placed a Tree Preservation Order on the 101 beech trees along Bregagh Road, near Stranocum, Ballymoney, confirmed DRD Roads Service, today.

This action was prompted by the conclusions of a recent visual assessment report prepared for Roads Service. The report indicated that extensive pruning to remove dead wood and unsound branches, would be required to ensure the continued safety of road users. It also concluded that 16 of the trees would have to be felled because of their unsafe condition. It is feared that closer examination may reveal that more are unsafe and may need to be felled.

The Tree Preservation Order is intended to ensure the preservation of the remaining trees, while allowing any work, necessary to safeguard road users, to be undertaken. It will also allow officials from the Department of the Environment’s Planning Service to carry out a detailed appraisal of the trees.

The beech trees along Bregagh Road are historically important and a prominent feature in the local landscape. It is thought that they were planted in the late 1700s on what was then the avenue to Gracehill house, now Gracehill Golf Club. Unfortunately they are now approaching the limit of their natural lifespan.

Roads Service has confirmed that the trees are the responsibility of the landowners and noted that officials are currently discussing the problem with them. While the first priority of Roads Service is to ensure the safety of road users, officials are naturally aware of the concerns that the local community and others would have about any large scale pruning or felling. The objective is to leave the trees in a safe condition, which should also help to prolong the life of those that can be preserved.

Local community associations have expressed an interest in the trees and the feasibility of replacement planting, which would ensure the preservation of this important feature.