DUDLEY Council has come under fire for pollarding trees across Halesowen when they are in full leaf and during the nesting season.

The council has been cutting back trees in Olive Lane, Cocksheds Lane and Victoria Avenue over the past week - it is also carrying out works in Park Road West and South Road, Stourbridge.

Trees are generally recommended to be pruned in late winter or early spring - with the nesting season continuing into August.

Angry residents complained that the trees are being "decimated" during the nesting season.

Resident Caroline Watkins said: "Once again Dudley council is not giving a hoot about birds nesting, as their contractors go about destroying everything green.

"Why do this when there are still many active nests.

"Would waiting a few weeks really have hurt?

"I categorically refuse to believe that not a single nest or egg of any wild bird was not found in any of them.

"And did any of the work cease in order to allow full nesting cycle?

"I'm seeing this pointless destruction everywhere I look and I'm becoming so very upset, indeed depressed by it all."

Another resident, who didn't wish to be named, said: "They cut all the leaves off, there's not a leaf left to be seen. They are decimated.

"They look absolutely ugly."

Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for environmental, highways and street services, said: “These trees have been pruned by removing the upper branches, along with a number of others across the borough, to ensure they do not become a health and safety risk.

“This method of tree management is known as pollarding and the leaves and crowns will re-grow.

"This is an approved and recognised industry practice for the safe management of trees in the urban environment and can actually prolong the lifespan of the tree.

“All trees are inspected prior to undertaking any works to ensure any nesting birds are not disturbed. Where trees have been left un-pruned due to nesting birds, work to these will be completed once all birds have vacated the nest.”