Horror as hundreds of trees chopped down on historic common

But the landowner says the clearing is part of conservation work to save hugely important ancient oak pollards on Ashtead Common.

Anna Vintner, who has walked her dogs on the common since 1969, said the landowner, the City of London Corporation, is "actively destroying" Ashtead Woods which cover a fifth of the area.

Mrs Vintner said: "If you go down to the woods today, you are sure of a big surprise - which is that Ashtead Woods are no longer there. Why?

"Because the City of London Corporation has cut down hundreds of healthy trees and are continuing the devastation."

She said the corporation wants to recreate a wood pasture which it thinks existed there 100 years ago - a premise she described as based on "thin air".

Highlighting concerns over wildlife, pollution and flooding, she asked: "Why should natural, healthy woods be destroyed? The Ashtead Woods area is now a swamp."

Her friend Jane Bottomley, from Broadhurst by the common, said: "I walk up there all the time and I have been pretty horrified.

"There have been chainsaws going all winter and a lot of trees going down.

"Nobody has really been told anything about it.

"It’s a point in history they are creating.

"Why have they chosen that point in time? We are seeing devastation up there."

But the City Corporation said far from destroying the environment, it is trying to restore "relic wood pasture" comprised of ancient trees, woodland, open growth trees and shrubs.

Andy Barnard, superintendent at Ashtead Common, said implementing a 10-year conservation plan together with Natural England.

Mr Barnard said: "As part of this project we are protecting the site’s 1,600 ancient veteran oak pollards - some of which are 600 years old.

"These veteran trees are of immense ecological and historical importance.

"Their survival is threatened by encroaching scrubland and some competing smaller trees, which are of a much lower ecological value.

"During the course of this autumn and winter our rangers and volunteers have worked hard to protect these important old oak trees, and improve ecological diversity by maintaining and creating areas of open grassland.

"These areas are vital for many species of insects and birds which would eventually decline if no action is taken to protect them.

"Ashtead Common, by virtue of its soils and hydrology is a naturally wet common, a fact that has contributed to its survival as such a valuable place for wildlife."

The ancient oak pollards led to the 500-site being designated a National Nature Reserve 20 years ago. It is part of the Epsom and Ashtead Commons Site of Special Scientific Interest.