Game of Thrones’ famous Dark Hedges face the CHOP: Beech trees have become dangerously unstable and are at risk of ‘killing someone’, experts warn

A group of beech trees made famous in the hit TV series Game of Thrones will have to be cut down because they have become dangerously unstable, safety experts said.

Dark hedges were planted in Northern Ireland in the 18th century, but have suffered significant damage over the past 250 years, raising fears someone could be killed if action is not taken.

The trees are a popular tourist attraction in Armoy, County Antrim, and have featured in the television series of George R. R. Martin’s fantasy novels.

Game of Thrones fans will remember that in Season 2, Arya Stark escaped down the tree-lined road from King’s Landing.

The path was used as the Kings Road, a path running the length of the land of Westeros that characters use to travel between the seven kingdoms of the continent.

Damage: A group of beech trees made famous in the hit TV series Game of Thrones will have to be cut down because they have become dangerously unstable, safety experts say.

BECOME FAMOUS: The trees are a popular tourist attraction in Armoy, County Antrim, after they appeared in the TV series of George R. R. Martin’s fantasy novels (pictured)

However, what started as two rows of about 150 trees in total, is now down to 86 trees due to rot, age, inclement weather and damage caused by tourists.

They were originally planted to line the entrance to the Georgian mansion in Ballymoney called Gracehill House.

Tree safety experts surveyed 80 of these beech trees, and only 30 were found to be in good condition.

The rest were damaged in some way, including 11 that are at risk of falling on people because they are considered dangerously unstable.

One of them died completely, according to a report by the Northern Ireland Department of Infrastructure.

Of the 11 trees recommended for felling, six are subject to tree protection orders, so the local council must give its consent for this to happen.

Mervyn Storey, DUP councillor, He told the Belfast Telegraph: ‘I, and no one else, want to see the beginning of the end of what is known as the Dark Hedges.

“Money has not been allocated to do something like an aggressive tree-planting scheme, but my feeling is that it is too late for that.”

Mr Storey is also a member of the Dark Hedges Preservation Trust, which has called for just four or five trees to be cut down.

“It’s trying to keep something alive that has been in the ICU for a significant number of years,” he added.

Suffering over time: What started as two rows of about 150 trees is now down to 86 due to rot, age, inclement weather and damage caused by tourists

“These trees will not last forever, and we have already lost a significant amount of them as a result of weather and natural conditions.”

Councilors will be told that rescue plans “should help secure the continued existence of the majority of protected trees, with a specified lifespan of more than 10 years”.

They will be asked to consider “health and safety concerns associated with potentially dangerous and structurally compromised trees.”

Bob McCallion, from campaign group Save the Dark Hedges, told the Belfast Telegraph: “Because of the number of people standing under these trees, there is no way the council can reject these results.”

“These trees will be condemned.” But I’m not sure they will because all these people want is tourism.

“People are wringing their hands. If they don’t do something about these trees, someone is going to get killed because of the condition they’re in.”

From a sea slug called ‘calici’ to a bee fly called the ‘Night King’: Newly discovered species named after Game of Thrones characters

Millions of Game of Thrones fans were shocked when the hit fantasy series came to an end in 2019.

Scientists around the world were not immune to the magic of the show, with many choosing to name newly discovered species in its honour.

This included scarab beetles named after Daenerys Targaryen’s three dragons, and a spider whose locator reminded of the manipulative Lord Varys.

Here, MailOnline takes a look at some of the show’s favorite characters in the form of spiders, sea slugs and dinosaurs.

MailOnline takes a look at some of the spiders, sea slugs and dinosaurs named after Game of Thrones characters