DEFENCE bosses say felling hundreds of trees at a popular nature reserve will help improve the area for wildlife.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation is advertising plans to cut down around 500 trees at Friday Woods in Colchester over the coming weeks.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD), which owns the land, says felling is taking place as part of an effort to restore an area of pasture woodland, where half of the oak trees are set to be cut down.

However residents have raised concerns about the trees, many of which are believed to be more than 30 years old, being cut down at the popular beauty spot.

One resident said: "This is the third year running they have done this kind of thing.

"The trees look mainly healthy and have been there for decades."

He added: "It is wanton destruction of the place."

Ward councillor Dave Harris (Lab, Berechurch) said he had contacted the Ministry of Defence and Forestry Commission about the felling.

"For me, it is a tragedy to lose good trees in this way, especially when it has been announced the council is working on planting thousands more," he said.

Last month, Colchester Council launched its Colchester Woodland Project, which will see 200,000 trees planted across the borough over the next five years.

A spokesman for the MOD said: "Tree felling work at Friday Woods is being done as part of the stewardship fund to improve this Site of Special Scientific Interest.

“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.

“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.”