Concerns over tree felling in popular Cupar woodland.

Walkers assured clearance work is essential and meets all requirements

An area of woodland on an ancient path between Cupar and Ceres is being cleared ahead of replanting.

Landowner Ian Whiteford gave assurances the woodland would be restored after people who use the Moor Road route raised concerns about the potential impact on wildlife.

He said the trees had to be taken down to make way for new saplings because many had either blown over or had succumbed to disease.

Mr Whiteford, of Hill Tarvit Farm, said red squirrel and badger surveys had been carried out and a felling licence, with a requirement to replant, had been issued.

“This is just really to improve the woodland because a forestry consultant said there was a real danger of the entire wood being blown down,” he said.

“About 30 per cent of the trees were windblown and a great number of other trees have a core disease and were all spongy in the middle.

“If it’s any consolation, I’ve been here on this farm for 70 years and I remember the woodland being cut down, perhaps about 60 years ago,” he said.

“Within three or four years, there will be enough regrowth and replanting to make it recognisable as a woodland again.”

He added: “I’m trying to do my best to maintain the environment as I would like it, and as other people would like it.”

Police Scotland confirmed that all the necessary legal requirements had been met before the work started.

However, local group Sustainable Cupar raised concerns about the lack of information available to the public about the felling.

And the group had concerns about the impact it would have on nesting birds.

A member of Sustainable Cupar said: “People have been going up to these woods and walking their dogs. Being a local green area, people access these woods for all sorts of leisure purposes.

“It was quite a surprise, when they didn’t know that these trees were going to be felled.”

Meanwhile, it is believed vandals are behind damage to a stone wall at the ancient path.

However, the damage has not been reported to police.

Joan Brown from Sustainable Cupar said it was the second time in the space of weeks that stones from the wall had been dislodged.

She said: “Sustainable Cupar has successfully upgraded the Moor Road core path to Ceres.

“It is very disappointing and hard to understand why some users want to destroy that work.”