Fruit tree felling to stop rats

Productive fruit trees at Reid’s Farm were chopped down by council workers to reduce vermin in the area and nature lovers are calling foul.

Over the past few weeks restoration work has been conducted at Reid’s Farm while the campsite is closed.

Trees identified as pests have been felled including four fruit trees and one visitor said plum, lemon and peach trees are among those felled.

Resident Karen Williams said the fruit trees should never have been chopped down.

‘‘Those trees have probably been there for 30 years,’’ she said.

‘‘It's ridiculous. People would pick fruit from those trees when they went down with their children to have a swim.’’ Karen Williams

‘‘It’s ridiculous. People would pick fruit from those trees when they went down with their children to have a swim.’’

Taupo District Council Parks and Recreation Manager John Ridd said the trees had to be removed as the rotting fruit was attracting rats to the area.

‘‘We have a bit of a rat problem down there,’’ he said.

‘‘We need to remove as many food sources for the rats as possible.’’

Ridd said the trees were felled without councillor consent because wild fruit trees are regarded as a pest and removed when they are located.