Council forced to apologise to devastated locals after wrong trees chopped down in Britain's most famous forest

However, the contractor responsible for the project, Foxstone Forestry, felled trees outside the designated zone.

Labour council leader Paul Peacock described the situation as "actually a tragedy" and confirmed the authority accepts responsibility.

He said: "It's our land and our scheme."

The Forestry Commission was immediately notified once the error came to light, and an investigation is now underway to review whether any breaches of the Forestry Act occurred.

The Nottinghamshire ground is world-famous as the legendary home of the outlaw Robin Hood.

The project at Intake Wood aims to transform the landscape by removing Corsican pine trees and establishing broadleaf woodland characteristic of the ancient Sherwood Forest, known

These conifers were originally planted approximately eight decades ago in the aftermath of the Second World War, when Britain sought to bolster its timber supplies.

The Forestry Commission granted Newark and Sherwood District Council a licence to proceed with the felling operation, partly due to concerns that the ageing pines posed a risk to public safety during severe weather conditions.

Foxstone Forestry, the contractor carrying out the work, said that the scheme forms part of a wider effort to reduce conifer numbers and introduce hardwood species.

The company said the regeneration programme is designed to enhance biodiversity and create improved habitats for wildlife.

Residents living near the woodland have expressed profound distress at the scale of tree removal.

John Flowers, a member of the Save Intake Wood group who resides just minutes from the site, told the BBC: "We weren't expecting anything as devastating as this."

He noted that several footpaths have remained closed for more than six months.

Regarding the council's replanting pledges, he added: "Whatever happens here now, it will never be seen in my lifetime."

Alan Sands, who described using the woods for solace during chemotherapy treatment, said he and neighbouring residents were "devastated" by the felling and harbour "great concerns about the next phases of the project", fearing the work is progressing too rapidly.

James Gamble, a Reform UK county councillor for Sherwood Forest with postgraduate qualifications in biodiversity conservation, said: "We know they felled the wrong trees, but how do we know they've given the correct duty of care to identify active nesting sites and protect them?"

Foxstone Forestry maintained that nest checks were conducted daily and insisted the machine operator's actions were accidental rather than deliberate.

The contractor said: "Trees were felled by the machine operator by accident, the Forestry Commission were contacted straight away by both the operator and myself.

They added: "The Forestry Commission agreed that there was no malicious intent with the works that had gone ahead but an investigation would need to be conducted.

"The site is part of an overall plan to reduce the conifer stock and replace with hardwood which is part of a regeneration scheme to improve the biodiversity within Intake Wood, a scheme to improve habitat for birds and bugs."

They added that nest checks were completed daily.

The council has organised a public meeting for Friday to discuss the project's future stages with the community.

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