Roots!

I know this is a bit of a tall order, but any advice would be appreciated. We've just moved house to Hastings and the garden is covered in black fabric topped with gravel. We've lifted the fabric and found the ground is thick with these roots. Any idea what it may be, how to best deal with it, etc

 

Are there any trees nearby?
They look like the fibrous root system of a large tree, brought to the surface by the fabric and gravel covering.

 

They look like Ash Tree roots....do you have a tree nearby?

 

All so i would say Ash tree roots, but could be wrong

 

Thanks so much, that's very reassuring. There's no obvious ash tree now but, as I say, we only moved here in December so there may well have been until recently. We'll ask around.