A NATURE lover who caught workmen felling oak trees has accused the National Trust of "absolute vandalism" over its management of a Dorset beauty spot.

The conservation charity has admitted cutting the trees down unwittingly, but says the work being carried out is part of its management programme at Badbury Rings.

Dave Astin walks his rescue dog Peggy at the Iron Age fort near Wimborne twice a week and was horrified to see a JCB grubbing up elders, blackthorns and the oak trees on Tuesday August 10.

He was told the removal was part of a scrub clearance to improve the site.

"The point is they're grubbing out oaks which are well grown and which were fenced in to protect them," he said.

"I see no justification for ruining this stuff."

The elderflower and blackthorn provided blossom which delighted walkers and berries for winter food for birds, he said.

"It's absolute vandalism," he added.

"I feel this is a great disservice to local people and obviously for the wildlife. The National Trust may regard it as scrub but for the wildlife it's a natural habitat. I want these oaks reinstated."

National Trust spokesperson Alex Brannen said the blackthorn and other hedgerow plants had obscured the oaks whose existence was unknown.

"We have taken out one clump and two oaks which have been in there for 20 years - one of them was damaged with chalk sickness," he said.

"It's not a question of the National Trust ripping down oaks. They were a couple of small trees that weren't thriving."

The scrub was being cleared to provide space for disabled car parking and to improve bio-diversity, Mr Brannen added.

First published: August 13