THE felling of trees at a Wirral park has been described by its friends group as 'regrettable' but 'necessary'.

Campaigners had made a plea for the cutting of trees in a Ashton Park to stop. Their fight was sparked by local ecologist Diane Johnson after a heritage Beech tree in the children's play area was cut down last month.

It is one of 43 trees requiring urgent safety work, following an inspection, described by Mrs Johnson as 'ill-advised vandalism'.

But The Friends Of Ashton Park group said the work was necessary.

In a statement, it said: "The survey identified 19 trees that needed felling because they were dangerous and other trees needing tree surgery on dead branches.

"The actual tree work has been undertaken by separate contractors engaged by Wirral who are unconnected with the tree surveyors.

"The park trees have not been surveyed for a considerable time and, therefore, the survey has identified 19 trees needing felling in the Lower Park.

"The Friends of Ashton Park were consulted in advance and found that the survey work, done by professional advisers, was thorough and well-documented by tree, condition and the reason for the work.

"We have plans with our partners to site a tree on the Old Shelter site in the Upper Park.

"We love trees and were very sad at the loss of the diseased monkey puzzle in the Lower Park.

"The tree surgeons do the job because they love trees and get upset when people criticise them when doing the job they love – caring for trees.

"Ashton Park is an urban park which requires tree management from time-to-time so we need tree surgeons!

"If this was a remote forest this work would be unlikely to be necessary unless trees had invasive diseases: but it is not a remote forest."

The project includes felling a small number of mature and semi-mature trees which, according to the inspection, were beyond treatment and could pose a danger to the public.

Most of these are near the play area.

The inspection revealed the affected trees are dead or in an advanced state of decline.

Where possible, they will be retained and only dead wood removed to ensure they are safe.

If replacement trees are needed these will be sourced once work is completed.

Campaign group fortreeswirral has held a protest demonstrations in the park.

More than 200 people have also signed a petition against campaigners are calling the 'massacre' of trees across Wirral.

Appealing to Wirral Council, Mrs Johnson told the Globe: "Please stop any further tree felling in Ashton Park, which may have been advised by the tree assessor that was involved in the tragic misdiagnosis of this tree.

"We know they have mis-identified species; they took one species out saying it was one thing when, in fact, it was something else. We know they hadn't done a proper root survey on it.

"How many valuable trees will go?

"Once you get into a commercial base, the council are farming the work out to tree contractors and it's all about the money then.

"Tax payers money is being used to take away things that are enriching our environment, and I object this.

"Wirral Council needs to stop funding this vandalism."

In response, cabinet member for leisure and recreation, Cllr Phillip Brightmore, told the Globe: "No one wants to see trees, especially mature trees such as these, felled.

"But an examination of them by tree specialists has revealed they would be a danger to the public, including the many families with young children who use the play area and it is vital that action is taken.

"Safety of the public must be paramount."

Also among those against the work is Colin, who lives nearby and regularly walks his dog in the park.

He said: "I'm just disgusted about these trees getting cut down.

"It's costing so much money; yet we can't have the road's cleaned and the lake needs cleaning because there's no money."