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Disease claims more conker trees - 05/03/09

Another historic avenue of chestnut trees has been claimed by a disease which is spreading throughout the South West of England.

Work has begun at Barrington Court, near Ilminster in Somerset, to fell 43 diseased horse chestnut trees and replace them with a variety of oak.

The National Trust has already had to fell a number of other horse chestnuts around the country after they became infected with a type of Phythopthora fungus called bleeding canker.

Barrington Court's head gardener, Christine Brain, said: "Bleeding canker is rife in England's horse chestnuts.

"It kills the tree from the inside out, and while doing so makes it susceptible to other infections which hasten the trees death.

"We've been maintaining the trees over the last few years in an effort to extend their life and keep the disease as controlled as possible, but removal is now our only sensible option."

More trees along the historic Chestnut Avenue will be felled at Barrington Court next year and the clearance work is expected to be completed in 2010.

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  Aesculus hippocastanum

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  The perfect boys toy! The Horse Chestnut Tree is an old childhood favourite, adored by the boys due to the fabulous 'Conker'.
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