THE chance of ‘spontaneously collapsing’ trees meant scores have been felled at a local beauty spot – despite RSPB advice not cut down trees between March and August.

Catherington Lith Nature Reserve between Lith Lane and Catherington Lane is managed by Horndean Parish Council.

It was decided to fell up to 200 trees infected with Ash Dieback disease during bird-nesting season as there were fears falling trees could kill walkers.

The Asian tree disease has taken hold across the UK and there is no remedy except felling the dying trees.

Council chairman Lynn Evans said if the trees hadn’t felled there was a danger they could ‘spontaneously collapse.’

She also said the council didn’t want ‘big lumps falling and people getting killed.’

She added: “We have to put public safety first.”

But the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said it was the wrong time of the year to fell trees as birds could be nesting in them.

In a statement, the RSPB said: “There is no law preventing anyone from felling trees or pruning hedges at any time of year.

“But we advise tree work should be done over the winter months, as this avoids the peak season for nesting birds, which is from the beginning of March to the end of August.

“And under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, birds and any active nest, including nest building or a nest with eggs or chicks in, are protected from intentional destruction or removal.

“If you see a bird carrying nesting material or food into an area, this indicates there is an active nest there.”

The reason given for the tree felling going ahead now was the safety of the tree surgeons, as wet autumn or winter weather could increase the risk of accidents.

Cllr Evans said: “While we appreciate this is not the most ideal time for tree felling with nesting birds and wildlife, we sadly had to make the tough decision to carry on with the works because of public safety concerns.”

An oak thought to be hundreds of years old was also accidentally felled during the clearance, to the anger of local residents.

Ash Dieback disease has spread throughout the UK in the past 20 years and surfaced at the Lith about four years ago. As a result, councils such as Horndean Parish Council, Rowlands Castle Parish Council and Harting Parish Council, among others, have recently been forced to carry out clearance felling on woodland they own.

The disease sees fungus growing inside the tree, eventually blocking its water transport systems before causing it to die – with trees becoming so brittle they collapse.

It is thought the disease could kill 95 per cent of UK ash trees.

A variety of saplings will be replanted at the Lith once the clearance work is finished.