'Vandalism of worst degree'
site to plant saplings in protest at the mystery act.
Among those upset is professional artist and retired art teacher Jac Seery Howard, 62, of Seaham, who used to spend timepaintingthebeechhedgerow.
She said: “I came down and left in tears when I realised it had gone. It is vandalism of the worst degree. I was delighted when I first found this hedgerow at the back of the hall.
"It had not been tended to for years and had become layered and overgrown naturally.
"It was just such a glorious place to work while being surrounded by bird song.”
Stuart Timmiss, the authority’s head of development and housing, said it had received complaints recently about a number of trees being felled.
He added: “We are following up these complaints and have written to the registered owner of the land and spoken toanagent,andhavealsomade the Forestry Commission and Durham Constabulary aware.
"Our officers have been onsite and will continue to monitor the situation.
“We have also served an emergency Tree Preservation Order to provide protection to remaining trees in the area.”
A Tree Preservation Order is an order made by a local planning authority to protect specific trees, groups of trees or woodlands in the interests of amenity.
Theorderprohibitsthecutting down, topping, lopping, uprooting, wilful damage or destruction of trees without the local planning authority’s written consent. If consent is given, it can be subject to conditions which have to be followed. In the Secretary of State’s view, cutting roots is also a prohibited activity and requires the authority’s consent.