CONCERNS have been raised after hedge cutting during the nesting season took place in Enniskillen, in an incident that occured on March 10 and reported by multiple concerned local residents.

A selection of trees near the Railway Junction Retail Park in Enniskillen were cut down, angering some locals as this occured during 'nesting season'.

In a statement, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council said: "The Council is aware that work was recently undertaken on private property at the Railway Junction area; however, it is not aware of the owner, or the persons responsible for this work.

"The Council endeavours to undertake all bush and tree cutting on its property within the best practice timescale guidelines, from September to February.

"The Wildlife and Natural Environment (NI) Act 2011 protects nesting birds and it is an offence under this legislation to disturb nesting birds, their chicks, nests or eggs at any time of the year.

"However, it is permitted to cut hedges, trees etc at any time of the year, as long as there are no nesting birds present.

"Best practice is to carry out these works and maintenance outside of the breeding period, generally recognised as March 1 to August 31.

"It is recommended best practice to therefore wait until January and February, where possible, to support other wildlife that utilises the hedgerows in Autumn, such as birds feeding on berries, pollinators, etc."

Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan was "saddened and disturbed" by the scale of trees cut in the area.

After the incident, Miss Dolan said: "I was very saddened to see the cutting down of trees around the Railway Junction Retail Park in Enniskillen.

"The cutting down of trees is prohibited after the last day of February every year. A considerable number of people have contacted me after this incident to express their feelings of anger about this.

"The scale of this during nesting season is quite disturbing. Natural habitats are being destroyed.

"I have made be enquiries into who is responsible for this action, and I'm currently awaiting answers.

"Everyone involved in this kind of work knows the cutting season ends at the end of February. There is no reason why this work couldn't have been done before now," said Miss Dolan.