Residents are being invited to find out more on plans to remove trees that could be a danger to visitors at Stafford Castle.

It is part of Stafford Borough Council’s work around good land and forestry management with people being offered the chance to attend open days this week where they can ask questions of the contractors carrying out the programme.

The castle is home to around 5,500 trees but a small proportion are diseased and must be removed to make the grounds safer for visitors and the hundreds of dog walkers who use the grounds daily.

Joss Presland, Head of Operations at Stafford Borough Council, said the work would improve accessibility and safety through the woodland as well as enhancing the health of the existing trees and plants.

Acorn Environmental Management Group, specialists in arboriculture, landscape maintenance and tree consultancy services will be carrying out the work.

On Thursday 4 April from 3pm to 7pm and the following day, Friday at 7am until 12noon the contractors will be at the Castle Visitor Centre along with staff from the borough council and Freedom Leisure to explain what will be taking place and answer questions from members of the public.

Around 200 trees will be felled while a further 400 will have dead branches removed, along with other pruning, to help them thrive. There are plans for the stumps to be converted into homes for bees - as part of the council’s ‘Bee Friendly Borough’ initiative - and to become sculptures which have already proved a popular addition around the area.

Some of the trees to be felled have suffered from Ash Dieback - a serious disease which could see the tree collapse. The work is expected to take around two months to complete and signs will be going up around the castle grounds to let people know what is going on.

The council said the removal of the diseased trees will improve accessibility to other areas of the woodland and also lead to the creation of habitats for wildlife. Work is expected to start this month (April).

The Castle has dominated the local skyline for more than 900 years and the 26-acre site includes a Keep, inner bailey, outer bailey, woodland, and herb garden.

Mr Presland continued: “This is about good forestry management and is a positive programme designed to improve the health of the woodland, build bio-diversity - and ensure the safety of residents. We want to ensure the many visitors and dog walkers can continue to enjoy the castle grounds.

“I would encourage anyone who would like further information about what will be taking place, how it will be done and why it is being done, to come along to one of these open days and ask the experts directly.”

Stafford Castle is run by Freedom Leisure on behalf of the borough council. You can find more from their heritage website at www.historicstafford.co.uk

Press Release No 6114