DECADES old healthy trees are being felled unnecessarily at a popular beauty spot, it has been claimed.

The Ministry of Defence has started chopping down trees as part of its annual tree felling programme at Friday Woods in Colchester.

Defence bosses say the thinning of trees at Friday Woods, a military training area, helps wildlife at the Site of Special Scientific Interest flourish.

However, residents have hit out at the move and say the trees which are being felled are decades old.

Gazette:

Mary Felgate said: “A vast number of large mature trees are being systematically felled in Friday Woods and as you can see by the rings they have grown for many years and look in rude health.

“The excuse upheld by the Government department quangos is they are making way for pasture.

“I’m not a cowman, but even I know cows play no part in the MoD firing range.”

Gazette:

Ward councillor Dave Harris said he had been contacted by several residents concerned about the loss of “mature and magnificent” oak trees.

“It is a tragedy despite the Government encouraging planting of trees to combat climate change, it is allowing such cutting down to take place at Friday Woods,” he said.

“Last year it was reported the MoD said it was thinning out Friday Woods by cutting down younger trees. Clearly this is not the case and the trees are over 80-years-old and not diseased.

“This is concerning some of my residents who are upset to see such magnificent species being cut down in their prime.”

Gazette:

A spokesman for the MoD said work would improve biodiversity in the area.

He said: “This work is part of the planned restoration of the pasture woodland where a 50 per cent thinning of oak trees will occur. This will primarily involve the removal of smaller stems; all mature stems are to be retained.

“In the secondary woodland areas some tree thinning, glade and ride creation, and rotational scrub management is needed to reduce tree cover and restore a balance between trees, open-grown scrub and grassland.

“The work is needed to maintain quality of the habitats for wildlife and plant life.”

“We are clearing trees to reduce the tree coverage and improve the conservation habitat for local wildlife.

“This work has been approved by Natural England, the Forestry Commission and Colchester Council.”

Natural England, the Forestry Commission and Colchester Council have approved works.