Game of Thrones: Traffic ban on Dark Hedges road begins

A traffic ban at the Dark Hedges - made famous by the TV fantasy drama Game of Thrones - has begun.

The tunnel of beech trees on the Bregagh Road near Armoy, County Antrim, is now a major tourist attraction.

The scene was used by the Game of Thrones crew to represent the Kingsroad in the HBO drama series.

Despite the ban, brought on by concerns about the impact of traffic on the site, some drivers were still using the road as normal on Monday.

The ban is being enforced along the Bregagh Road, from its junction with Ballinlea Road to its junction with Ballykenver Road.

The Department for Infrastructure order also prohibits buses and coaches from using the designated stretch of the road.

Any motorist who flouts the ban could face a fine of up to £1,000.

Some vehicles, including agricultural and emergency vehicles, are exempt from the ban "in certain circumstances".

Sandy Laverty, from Coleraine, County Londonderry, said it was "frustrating" to see traffic on the road on Monday.

"I drove out today to see what would happen now that the ban was in place but I found it was business as usual with cars lining the Bregagh Road.

"Nothing had been done to close the road, cars were parked on the verge, adding to the damage already done.

"They were able to place large concrete blocks on the road to stop people driving through it during a recent storm, but they didn't put any signs etc up before today."

Bob McCallion has campaigned for the preservation of the Dark Hedges, and he welcomed the traffic restrictions.

"We have been campaigning to have barriers put on the road because its going to be abused and its going to be very hard to police, but it's a step forward," he said.

Mr McCallion called for measures to be be put in place to stop people climbing the trees, and carving their names into them.

"There needs to be a daily management of the site," he added.

The Dark Hedges were planted more than 200 years ago by the Stuart family, who created a tree-lined avenue along the entrance to their Gracehill House mansion.

About 150 were planted by James Stuart, but time has taken its toll over the centuries and now fewer than two thirds remain standing.

In January 2016, during Storm Gertrude, high winds ripped up two trees, causing them to collapse.

Later that year, a large, rotten branch broke off one of the trees and fell across the road.

The Dark Hedges became a huge draw for tourists and TV fans after they appeared, albeit briefly, in the closing scene of one episode of Game of Thrones.

Arya Stark, one of the show's main characters, was filmed travelling on a cart along the road, disguised as a boy.

Conservationists have expressed alarm about the increasing traffic levels in the area and the possible damage to the trees' roots.

During the Easter holidays this year, pictures of traffic jams were shared on social media and some users criticised the number of vehicles lining the road.

Patrick Cregg, director of the Woodland trust in Northern Ireland, said tourist coaches in particular were doing great damage.

"Our great fear was that what we enjoy today future generations would not enjoy, and we have already lost a significant number of trees," he said.

Mr Cregg explained that replanting was already under way to replace the lost trees.

"Hopefully, with replanting we will create the Dark Hedges of the future, although its going to take centuries for that," he said.