Trees to be felled near historic stone circle

A number of trees face the chop near a set of historic standing stones.

Wiltshire Council gave the National Trust the go-ahead to fell 14 trees in the Avebury conservation area this week.

The trust said under plans an overgrown leylandii would be felled before it caused further damage to a stone wall.

Around the stones to the south of the village, an ash tree – which is suffering from ash dieback – continues to decline and will receive further pollarding, while the lower limbs of an ash and two beech trees on the boundary of the sports field will be removed.

In the grounds of Avebury Manor a large limb, which is in danger of falling, will be removed from a mature sycamore, while a branch needs to be removed from a sycamore overhanging the village car park before it splits from the trunk.

Avebury is the UK's only village enclosed by a stone circle. The trees form part of the village's conservation area.

Avebury henge and stone circles are managed by The National Trust on behalf of English Heritage.

The trust, which is headquartered in Swindon, also owns and manages Avebury Manor, the Great Barn, and the Alexander Keiller Museum.

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