Penton Hook

Penton Hook Island remains closed to the public. 

Unfortunately, due to scale and complexity of the work required to clear the diseased and dangerous trees from the island, we have had to keep the island closed.

We continue to work to resolve this issue as quickly as we can. However, Ash dieback rots the tree from inside, making the felling of these trees extremely unpredictable. This poses a risk to the chainsaw operator and the surrounding environment and so we must use specialist mechanical equipment, which will have to be brought to site by river. The associated enabling works to the island bank, as well as the constraints brought about by bird next season (March – September), further increase the complexity of the work.

We are working closely with partners to explore funding options and hope to be able to arrange a public engagement event in Spring 2026 to update the local community of our overall management plan for the island. 

Keeping the public safe is one of our priorities and we apologise for any inconvenience this closure may be causing. We know the importance of this site to the local community, and we are committed to keeping everyone updated on our progress.

 

These trees pose a high risk of injury to people from falling branches, collapsing trees and branches on the ground causing trip hazards.

We continue to work to resolve this issue as quickly as we can. 

Our aim is to replace the diseased trees with new trees to suit the ecology of the island.

Public safety remains our priority and is paramount in our decisions. Unfortunately, some people have forced the fence open to gain access. We urge people not to do this, as it puts them and others at significant risk of harm.

Our staff at Penton Hook Lock will continue to support members of the public with general queries about our work to support boating but won’t be able to answer further questions about this tree management work.

Please email enquiries_thm@environment-agency.gov.uk(External link).You can also phone our National Customer Contact Centre on 03708 506 506 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm). Please note, all current updates will be posted on this page as soon as information becomes available.