Six trees at the Dark Hedges, an iconic tourist attraction in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, are due to be cut down due to safety concerns. This comes after a specialist survey identified trees that pose a risk to public safety. The decision was made by Stormont’s Department for Infrastructure, and it stresses that the decision was not taken lightly. In a statement, a spokesperson for the department said that “whilst the amenity value afforded by the corridor of trees is acknowledged, the safety of road users is paramount”.
Originally, there were about 150 trees, but due to age and damage from several storms, only 86 remain. The trees became popular after serving as a backdrop for the Kingsroad in the popular TV series, Game of Thrones. Fans flocked to see the site, and it became one of the 25 Game of Thrones set locations around Northern Ireland. Visits became so popular that traffic bans were introduced in 2017.
The six trees in question have been identified as those in a poor condition, presenting a potential risk to the public travelling on the nearby road. The department responsible, joined by landowners and stakeholders, plans to take them down urgently.
However, the other 75 trees, according to the department, still present value as a tourist attraction and will be protected in a suitable management strategy to preserve their future.
The Dark Hedges, originally an entrance to Gracehill estate, were planted around the 18th century by the Stuart family, who lived in the nearby Georgian mansion. The majority of the beech trees date back to 1775. Though several named storms in recent years have caused damage to some of the more vulnerable trees, the department is keen to protect the remaining eighty-five trees, which is named part of the Northern Ireland Tourist Trail
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