A MALVERN woman who has walked a green footpath for 40 years was horrified to find a large section of it had been chopped down and burnt.

Valerie Knowles could not believe her eyes when she saw a 200m section of Jackpit Lane, which runs between Hall Green and Chance Lane, had been decimated in the middle of bird nesting season.

"Only last week I was walking down there watching all the nesting and feeding birds, but now their habitat has been completely destroyed," she said. "It has always been a lovely green lane, and I cannot see any reason at all for cutting these trees down."

Mrs Knowles, of Hall Green, said several others who use the path were upset by what had happened. "Some of us are wondering if there are plans to build a road through it," she said. "We just cannot think why else this would be done in such a beautiful area."

Conservators director Ian Rowat said the land in question was private, but that he had discussed Mrs Knowles' concerns with the owner. "Since we were informed I have been down there to have a look and talk with the owner, who was clearing dead elm trees from the hedge," he said. "We've discussed it and he has agreed to do this work in the winter months, which is a better time for it."