I WRITE to voice the anger of many people who live on and around Castlemorton Common about the slaughter of oak trees.

When I rang the Conservators to complain, I was told they were only thinning out trees that were close to one another, to give the other trees a chance to mature; a complete nonsense! Those trees were mature, at least 30 to 40 years old.

I was told that they were only taking out scrub and seedlings, like ash, birch etc. Do the Conservators consider mature oaks as seedling trees or scrub?

Oak trees support more insect life than any other tree, providing food for birds and a shade for grazing animals.

Six mature trees have been felled in an area of roughly 400 yards. These oaks were all between 37ft and 100ft away from the nearest tree.

The Conservators did not consult the people on this issue or put white bands around the trees to give the public a chance to have their say.

I believe they are now planning to take out a picturesque spinney of silver birch, a wonderful place for wildlife.

We do not want the common to look like several football pitches; the commons' beauty is in its assortment of gorse, wild roses, blackberries and wild flowers etc for people and animals and birds to enjoy.

This encroachment is not conservation.

MRS ANN CORBETT-SMITH, Gloucester Road, Welland.