NATURE-LOVING residents have been left outraged after "perfectly healthy" trees were axed at a popular nature reserve.

Felling has been spotted taking place at Friday Woods in Bounstead Road, Colchester.

The cutting of trees in the Ministry of Defence woods has upset residents in the past.

Gazette: Stacked - trees seen cut down at Friday WoodsStacked - trees seen cut down at Friday Woods (Image: Public)

One resident said: “They’re perverting the course of nature by killing valuable trees during spring when birds are nesting.

"It’s the wrong time of year to be destroying things.

“You can restore an acid grassland within a generation, but you won’t restore an ancient woodland, so we shouldn’t be destroying them.

“It’s scandalous what they’re doing. There’s an enormous stack of all the trees they’ve cut down.”

Berechurch ward councillor David Harris agreed with the frustrated residents.

Gazette: Saddened - Colchester councillor Dave Harris is against the fellingSaddened - Colchester councillor Dave Harris is against the felling (Image: Newsquest)

He said: “They did apply to Natural England, which was agreed because they’re mature trees that have grown bigger than the army wanted them to, but they’re cutting down perfectly good healthy trees.

“As far as I’m concerned, it's Army land and sadly the Army has taken the decision to cut down these trees which will affect the wildlife.

“But sadly it’s their land. I object, but what can I do?

“Natural England should have done more to stop it in my opinion. Cutting the trees down is a real tragedy."

Gazette: Tragedy - some trees are believed to be decades oldTragedy - some trees are believed to be decades old (Image: Public)

Gazette: Shocking - residents are unhappy to see so many trees felledShocking - residents are unhappy to see so many trees felled (Image: Public)

“I’m saddened by it. Losing any tree is sad.

"With climate change, we need trees and birds and bees for nature to take its course.

“It’s sad to see the trees stacked up and when you see the rings on the trees it's clear they are healthy and have no diseases.”

The Military of Defence responded saying the forestry work is being done to “improve the heathland of the Site of Special Scientific Interest”.

Gazette: Improvements - the works are said to be improving the siteImprovements - the works are said to be improving the site (Image: Public)

A spokesman for the Military of Defence said: “This is funded by the MOD’s Conservation Stewardship Fund which supports conservation projects across the MOD estate.

“Natural England was consulted as part of the process to obtain the necessary felling licence to allow the work to go ahead.”

Natural England had not responded at the time of going to print.