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Dark Hedges will be gone within a decade warns expert

Bob McCallion's award-winning photograph of the Dark Hedges
Bob McCallion's award-winning photograph of the Dark Hedges Bob McCallion's award-winning photograph of the Dark Hedges

CO ANTRIM's iconic Dark Hedges will have disappeared within a decade unless immediate action is taken to safeguard the 300-year-old beech trees, the regional director of the Woodland Trust has warned.

Patrick Cregg's grim assessment came as the award-winning photographer whose picture of the landmark arching trees featured in BBC Countryfile's calendar called for the closure of the single track road made famous by hit series Game of Thrones.

Bob McCallion said peak season traffic along the Bregagh Road near Stranocum posed a "severe threat to both public safety and the trees".

Mr McCallion first raised concerns about the impact of coaches and other traffic driving along the in The Irish News a year ago.

He said that while the initial article prompted an upsurge in interest about safeguarding the attraction, visitor numbers and the threat to the trees' welfare has increased over the past 12 months.

The Ballymena-based photographer, whose Farm Life photograph of the Dark Hedges won a place in the BBC Countryfile's 2011 calendar, believes the only way to prevent further damage to the trees is to close the road.

"The infrastructure around the Dark Hedges is totally inadequate for the hundreds of people that are visiting on a daily basis," he said.

"There has been talk of closing the road but it needs to happen immediately if the trees are to be saved from the erosion and other damage caused by heavy traffic. As the trees deteriorate there is also an increased danger of serious injury or even a fatality"

His plea has received backing from regional Woodland Trust director Patrick Cregg, who also sits on the Dark Hedges Preservation Trust alongside former DUP minister Mervyn Storey.

Mr Cregg warned that without immediate action the trees' likely lifespan was less than ten years.

He said the trees were facing "irreparable damage" due to the heavy tourist traffic, which was affecting the roots close to the surface.

"Beech trees are shallow rooting and will become destabilised by the sheer pressure of heavy vehicles regularly passing over them," he said.

"I believe the closure of the road needs to be considered as a top priority,"

Mr Cregg said that with the timely intervention and proper management the famous trees could last more than 50 years.

At present visitors to the attraction are expected to leave their vehicles in a nearby hotel car park before walking to the Dark Hedges, which doubled as the King's Road in the HBO fantasy series. However, limited parking means many, including coaches, simply park along the avenue beneath the trees.

A spokesman for Transport NI said the roads body was involved in discussions with the Dark Hedges Preservation Trust and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council about future management and conservation of the Dark Hedges.

"Transport NI is currently considering the details of a number of traffic management proposals as part of a package of agreed measures and it is anticipated Notice of Intention to make the traffic orders will be published within the next month," the spokesman said.