English ivy (hedera helix) is an evergreen climbing vine and ground cover plant which attaches to the bark of trees, brickwork and other surfaces by means of small rootlike structures. If not controlled it will eventually damage mature trees by blocking light from the tree's leaves causing branch dieback, and the excessive weight of overburdened branches increases the likelihood of blow over in high winds and rain, which is a safety hazard. Ivy also accelerates tree rot by holding moisture close to the bark and reduces its the supply of water and nutrients. One method of controlling ivy on trees is to remove it from the around the trunk from ground level to a height approximately 2 metres. Removing the ivy roots (if practicable) will prevent new growth.