Village stripped of 50 trees
AROUND an acre of land in a picturesque Hampshire village has been stripped of trees.
The land, off the main road in Itchen Abbas, was home to around 50 poplar and sycamore trees, which have been removed as part of a Natural England scheme.
The area is of special scientific interest due to its location near the River Itchen.
A spokeswoman for Natural England said selected parts of the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) are being restored to fenland, which is an increasingly rare habitat.
She said the removal of trees, which had been planted or had grown during the last 100 years, would allow the natural fenland vegetation to flourish.
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