A GROUP aiming to save woodland in Dunfermline has applied for tree protection orders in an effort to stem more tree-felling at Calais Woods.

Amid fears that planning applications near the Dunfermline Learning Campus could see more trees disappear, the Save Our Calais Woods group has submitted applications to Fife Council to protect existing trees.

Group member Robin Irwin explained: "The Save Calaismuir Wood group believes there is a high risk of these trees being wilfully felled, pruned or damaged in ways which would have a significant impact on the amenity of the area.

"The trees are at risk as a result of development pressures, limited buffer zone from housing and changes of property ownership, therefore, in the interests of amenity, it is expedient for the local authority to make a tree protection order on the plantation as a proactive precaution against future damage.

"Trees are known to provide habitat for field birds, raptors, foxes, deer, hare, red squirrels and badgers. There is an established footpath/right of way running north to south from Dunlin Drive to Calais Woods.

"This woodland has significant amenity value and contributes to the visual landscape of the area."

The move by the campaigners follows an application by developers for the new education campus requesting the removal of more trees.

As reported by the Press last month, agents for Fife Council said the request to vary existing planning conditions had been made as it had “become apparent” that additional tree removal was needed to enable the building of the proposed access road at the site on Dunlin Drive.

It had been agreed that an area of 0.816 hectares of woodland would be required to be removed but the fresh application asked for an additional 0.353 hectares to be included.

This is set to be decided at a meeting of the council's Central and West Fife planning committee later this month.

Alan Paul, property services senior manager with Fife Council, said a site survey led to the application for more trees to be felled.

"We fully recognise the importance of these woods and the place they hold in the hearts of the local community and are doing our utmost to minimise any impact from the nearby building works," he said.

"The trees which are removed will be replaced with local species and we will do our utmost to return the area to it's original state.

"The buildings which will make up this state-of-the-art learning campus have been designed to the highest standards of sustainability, with a view to being carbon neutral.

"The land around the buildings is being planned and laid out to have the greatest ecological and environmental benefits possible.

"We have met with local stakeholders to discuss the proposals and will continue to be available to any groups raising concerns over any part of the works."

Mr Irwin said the application was in "direct opposition" to what they wanted to protect.

"We are concerned that tree-felling work continued in these areas as recently as last week," he added. "The trees are clearly at risk as a result of immediate development pressures."