A MAN has labelled the ripping out of ancient hedgerows in preparation for the £120 million Worcester 6 technology park as a “disgrace”.

Retiree David Miles, 66, of White Ladies Aston, is unhappy the greenery has been removed during bird nesting season, which he believes runs from March to September.

Worcestershire County Council however has strongly defended its actions, stating “safeguards were put in place to mitigate any ecological impact”.

A spokesman for the local authority added that an ecologist was on-site to oversee the project, no bird nests were found in the hedgerows and the work was timetabled for early March to avoid bird nesting season, which it believes begins in April.

The hedgerows were removed from Pershore Lane from junction six of the M5 to the Crowle roundabout.

Mr Miles said: “Birds who have nested there for years will suddenly have lost their hedgerow.

“It is bird-nesting season from March to August every year and it is not advised to cut any hedges during this period.

“There seems to be one rule for us and one rule for them.”

He added however that he was pleased an ecologist was present and that the technology park will be “progress at the end of the day”.

The RSPB recommends that "cutting hedges and trees is avoided between March and August as this is the main breeding season for nesting birds", according to its website.

A spokesman for Worcestershire County Council said: "The removal of areas of hedging near the Crowle roundabout and junction six of the M5 was undertaken in readiness for the highways scheme improvements to Crowle roundabout and Pershore Lane, which are planned to commence in June 2015.

“The highways scheme is related to the progress of Worcester 6 Park, where development activity on-site is expected later this year.

"The programme of the construction works for the highways scheme meant that removal of hedgerows was required at an appropriate time of the year.

“Safeguards were therefore put in place to mitigate any ecological impact. In this case, an ecologist was present on-site during the works."

The long-awaited £120 million technology park – which has recently been re-named Worcester 6 –is expected to create 5,000 new jobs.

It is hoped the site will attract invest from around the world, with 1.5 million square feet of floor space available in a range of business units.