CONCERNS over ongoing clearance work at one county beauty spot has been addressed by the organisations managing the site.

Residents from Hope-under-Dinmore contacted the Hereford Times over the tree felling taking place in Queenswood, with fears that the area of the North Wood was being 'devastated'.

But in a statement, Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, which runs the site in partnership with New Leaf, has outlined why the work is taking place.

The statement said: "We are carrying out traditional woodland management tasks in the North Wood at Queenswood over this winter including coppicing, ride (path) widening and creating glades. UK woodlands have a history of being managed in this way for centuries and our woodland wildlife relies on the habitat this work creates.

"The woodland at Queenswood has always been managed by coppicing areas each winter. This is to create a diverse habitat within the woodland which is vital for many woodland species of flora and fauna including iconic woodland species such as bluebells and dormice. The ride widening and glade creation are being undertaken on the same principles."

However one Hope-under-Dinmore resident, 92-year-old John Stone, said although he understands the explanation for the work he feels that it has gone 'too far'.

He said: "They've done a swathe of about 50ft wide. It's not going to be Queenswood anymore, it's going to be 'Queensbare'. They are cutting so many trees down."

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust conceded that although the work can look drastic initially, come spring, these areas will begin to green up and wildflowers and woodland butterflies will colonise the areas as they regenerate.

They added: "As Queenswood was clear felled during WW1, many of the trees in the woodland are now of the same age – this work will begin to create a more diverse structure of different aged trees – again very beneficial to wildlife."

Anyone with concerns can visit queenswoodandbodenhamlake.org/queenswood/why-have-i-seen-trees-being-cut-down