News from our partners: Walkers warned of route diversions and temporary closures during Offa’s Dyke conservation works

News from our partners Offa’s Dyke Conservation Project

Walkers enjoying Offa’s Dyke as it passes the old county town of Montgomery, it runs through farmland and woodland on the Lymore Estate in the old county town of Montgomery, are being alerted to possible disruption to their route.

The Offa’s Dyke Conservation Project (ODCP) is funding hedge laying along the edges of some of these woodlands, to safeguard Offa’s Dyke, promote future positive management, improve habitat structure, and support traditional skills and crafts.

The hedge laying has made visible a higher number of dead and damaged trees very close to the Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail. For the future safety of everyone enjoying the trail, the estate will be removing potentially dangerous trees as soon as weather conditions allow.

The smaller branches will become woodchips on muddy areas of the trail, and larger logs will be stacked to one side over winter. Once the ground has dried out next spring, these logs can be collected by tractors and trailers without causing damage to farmland or Offa’s Dyke.

The trail may be temporarily closed or diverted for your safety during the tree removal – look out for any official notices or staff on location. Please keep dogs under close control and be ready to pause your walk if asked.

Elsewhere along this stretch of Offa’s Dyke, small amounts of scrub will be removed to help the grass underneath recover. The ODCP is also working with farmers and the estate to improve access along the Trail as well as adjusting the grazing along the monument.

Every stretch of Offa’s Dyke has different needs, and the ODCP is delivering a series of bespoke demonstrator projects with the overall purpose of passing Offa’s Dyke on to the next generation, better understood and in better condition.