Trees have been decimated ahead of a planning application for 1,000 homes.

Precious vegetation in Straits Mill, off Convent Lane, Braintree, has been destroyed by the landowner as a formal environmental assessment takes place.

Residents have reacted with despair as the decades old trees and hedges were cut down along a public footpath near the site earlier this month.

One walker, who witnessed the destruction on November 14, said: “They were surveying last month and again, now but this time they’ve felled a lot of hawthorn and blackthorn trees all along the area, just leaving larger oaks and suchlike.

“The upset is that they’ve left some rabbit and fox dens open to predators and obviously there is some loss of habitat for smaller birds and the fruits that blackthorn and hawthorn usually leave for winter are an important food source.

“What’s left there is a mess.”

But Braintree Council confirmed the area is on private land and the owner has carried out work leaving a large amount of debris.

It has also informed the public rights of way officer at Essex County Council.

John Parish, a nearby resident, said: “I don’t know why they have trimmed back so much hedging.

“From my point of view I think it’s another back step for our wildlife in the area.

“It’s quite a magical place. I was hoping Braintree Council could buy it as a big country park.”

The assessment request, filed on behalf of Gallagher Estates, is in anticipation of the planning application which would also include a shopping centre and early years childcare facilities.

Visit publicaccess.braintree.gov.uk and use reference 17/00005/SCO.