WILDLIFE campaigners have attacked plans to prune hedgerows at a nature reserve - and a letter suggesting they might be netted - saying they are worried about the impact on nesting birds.

But the Environment Agency (EA) has claimed hedges and trees will not be netted under the scheme at Rawcliffe Meadows and the work will be carried out with the minimum impact on the habitat.

The organisation wrote to volunteer-run organisation Friends of Rawcliffe Meadows saying “it is necessary to complete the hedgerow netting/hard pruning and the removal of the owl box” for improvement works to the Clifton Ings flood barrier bank to be carried out.

Dr Mick Phythian, of York Natural Environment Trust, is calling for the plans to be looked at again and said: “The EA told us they would be hard pruning only but they haven’t even got planning consent for the works or even a date for the planning meeting yet. As with their planning applications the details are vague and promises unsupported. They want access to the cornfield to use it as a works compound.

“We sow a crop that feeds birds on that field so they will have no food. Birds don’t like being messed around, it takes them ages to settle anywhere and it takes years to recover an area for them again.”

He added that if the works go ahead, the Friends of Rawcliffe Meadows could also lose about £6,500 of funding a year from the Countryside Stewardship.

Green Cllr Lars Kramm said he is “very concerned” by the plans, adding: “Hedgerows are very important for our domestic biodiversity. They are bursting with life and are the rainforests of the British Isles and we should take care of them.”

The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has also lodged an objection to the planning application, saying 1.2 hectares of grassland could be lost and there is “inadequate compensation”.

But a spokesman for the EA said they have been working with a council ecologist, Natural England and the Friends of organisation ahead of work taking place.

He said: “This work is necessary to discourage birds nesting in this section of hedgerow and make sure they aren’t harmed before construction work begins on site, subject to planning consent. Other methods have been investigated and this has been found to be the least impactful. We have made it clear that netting will not be used at this site and the work will be done by hedge pruning.”

He added that a mitigation plan is being prepared for the site and a new habitat could be created. The work is part of a £45 million flood alleviation scheme. The EA says the plans will help protect 2,000 homes and businesses in Clifton, Rawcliffe and the city centre.

A petition to the Government calling for it to be made illegal for hedgerows to be netted to prevent the nesting of birds has been signed by more than 177,000 people.