The famous Dark Hedges avenue of trees in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, will see 6 of its trees felled in the next few days. This alleyway, made famous by her appearance in the HBO series “Game of Thrones”, has been in real turmoil in recent years. Over-tourism, coupled with the advanced age of the trees, has greatly weakened the site… condemning some of them to be felled.
Every day, tourists flock to Dark Hedges to admire this unusual tree avenue. Located in Ballimoney, the place is full of charm and romance.
The site, founded in 1775, boasts some magnificent trees, whose advanced age has created some unique twisting branches. Their canopy forms a tangle above our heads, creating a setting worthy of George R. R. Martin or even a Tolkien novel.
However, the Game of Thrones series, combined with the age of the driveway, has become a threat to the sustainability of the site. Already very fragile, the trees no longer seem to be able to withstand the ravages of time, or even the wanderings of travelers.
As a result, trees are dropping like flies: some are swept away by storms, while others, severely weakened, face disease.
Unfortunately, the Dark Hedges Preservation Trust, headed by Cllr Mervyn Storey, has had to face up to the inevitable: 6 trees in the driveway will have to be felled. A difficult decision, but one that will ensure the longevity of neighboring trees, and provide greater safety for tourists by preventing accidental falling branches.
The alley will be closed in the next few days to allow the felling crews to remove and evacuate the trees concerned.
The organization’s president has already pledged to balance safety with the preservation of the site’s unique character.
For him, this action is essential to protect the area and promote local tourism:
While it’s sad that we must see the loss of 6 trees we’ve been able to agree an approach with Roads Service that meets health and safety requirements while also preserving the aesthetic qualities and very special nature of the site.
The report from Paul Hawksford and John McNamara at Arbor Consulting gives us a solid base to move forward with the future management of the Dark Hedges. Combined with better traffic management this should allow the site to be loved and appreciated for many more years.
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