Game of Thrones: Work under way to remove some of the famous Dark Hedges trees in Co Antrim

Work began today (Monday) in Co Antrim to remove some of the Dark Hedges trees, made famous in the TV series, Game of Thrones.

Six of the 250-year-old plus trees, which form an archway across the road just outside the village of Armoy, have been earmarked for felling because they pose a potential safety risk.

Specialist crews moved into the site this morning and while the trees will not be felled until later this week, some branches were cut down.

The operation will also include remedial work carried out on several others.

The tunnel of trees became famous when it was featured in the HBO fantasy series and now attracts significant numbers of tourists from around the world.

However, concerns have been raised about the state of several of the beech trees and a number have blown down during storms in recent years.

As work began at the site on Monday morning, there were several international tourists visiting the trees.

Mervyn Storey, chairman of the Dark Hedges Preservation Trust, said the work followed two reports which concluded some trees would have to be removed for safety reasons.

The former DUP MLA said: "While we would want that these trees would last forever, the reality is if they are 300 years of age that is not going to be the case and this work has to be carried out.

"I think it is also another marker in the long journey that we are on in terms of putting in place a management structure to manage this area.

"Eight seconds in Game Of Thrones changed the Bregagh Road and the Dark Hedges forever and we have even today, even though there is a closure in the road, we have people from California.

"This has been a tourist attraction for the last number of years.

"Yes, there is work needs to be done, but there has to be a long-term plan and that is going to take money and where is that coming from?"

Mr Storey added: "We don't want to inhibit people, but we also want to ensure when people come here they are safe.

"There has to be aggressive replanting, there had been a replanting late 2014, but because of lack of resource to maintain that planting it hasn't taken."

The trees on the Bregagh Road, near Stranocum, are on privately owned land.

The Department for Infrastructure said an independent specialist survey found that 11 trees, out of a total of 86, were in a poor condition and could pose a potential risk to the public.

Following discussions with relevant landowners and other stakeholders, arrangements were made to remove six of the trees, retaining the stumps, and for remedial work to be carried out on four trees, to reduce the risk to the public.

The condition of one further tree will be assessed on site.

A department statement said: "This decision has not been made lightly and, while the amenity value afforded by the corridor of trees is acknowledged, the safety of road users is paramount.

"The department will continue to engage with landowners and other stakeholders regarding their implementation of a suitable management strategy to protect the future of the other 75 trees."

The trees were planted to line the Bregagh Road to Gracehill House, which was built around 1775.

Originally, there were about 150 trees.

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