COLCHESTER Council has been accused of eco-vandalism for its plans...to plant trees.

The council has laid out its ambitions to reach net zero by 2030 with carbon busting techniques including planting 200,000 trees.

But members of the Colchester Natural History Society believe the council is destroying a wildflower meadow by planting more trees at High Woods Country Park. Dougal Urquhart, of East Mersea, is the chairman of the society and has referred to the plans as ‘eco vandalism’.

He said: “We are regarded as a stakeholder at the park and the council looks to us because of the information and records we collate.

“We recently met up with park officers and councillors under the impression that we would be consulted on issues relating to tree planting at the park.

“It was a shock to discover that the decision to plant these trees was made without our input by Colchester Council Cabinet.”

The controversy surrounds Colchester Council’s decision to plant the trees on a two and-a-half-hectare grassland meadow on the south facing slope of the country park.

Mr Urquhart believes this will significantly reduce the wildlife numbers in the park and cannot understand the council’s reasoning.

He added: “To make the decision, the park staff provided the council with three choices. “The one that was chosen was not supported by the society because it would significantly damage the grassland.

“Colchester Council is adamant that the name ‘High Woods’ means the park should be known for its trees.

“However, there are locations like New Forest Park in Hampshire that have villages and heaths as well as woodland.”

As well as affecting wildlife, Mr Urquhart believes the council could lose events and tourism by planting trees over the grassland.

A spokesperson for Colchester Council said: “Following several stakeholder meetings earlier this year, as part of the ongoing Colchester Woodland and Biodiversity Project, officers presented a variety of options to Cabinet for consideration regarding tree planting in High Woods Country Park.

“Cabinet agreed to proceed with all the options that were presented, and work has now commenced to deliver them.”