A resident who prides herself on being a lover of wildlife has come forward to raise concerns about a popular supermarket in the area that is allegedly destroying local habitat. 

Jen Smith, 73, said that the Asda supermarket on Chalfont Way is cutting down essential trees and shrubbery that birds regularly nest in. 

"Asda has called in contractors and told them to lower everything. Trees, hedges, shrubs to a manageable level which for the majority of it has turned out to be about waist high," Ms Smith said.

"Some mature trees have come down as well, undergrowth has been completely trimmed and cleared away. It's so sad really."

After speaking to the RSPB crime unit Ms Smith was told that there isn't actually a law in this country to protect any habitat unless the area is of scientific interest. 

"It used to be a wildlife haven," she said. "Birds nesting in the trees, foxes building dens in the undergrowth. It's the general devastation of it all that's just awful. 

"I helped the fox cubs who lived there last year that were suffering from mange. A group of us nursed them back to health. It's just so sad to see all of this habitat being destroyed."

Since then Ms Smith has been in contact with the tree surgeons currently working on the job and says they are acting with care and share her concern for the nesting birds. 

"They are doing a wildlife survey every morning and the man I spoke to actually walked around with me and pointed at trees that have nests in that they're leaving and trees that are protected," she continued. 

"I must admit I was very impressed with his knowledge and his attitude. The downside is we cannot do anything about the wildlife being destroyed in the first place."

Ms Smith said Asda's reasoning for cutting down the trees and hedges is so the store will be visible from the road.

"It's a marketing thing I think as much as anything. It seems that there is nothing we can do to stop it," she said. 

A spokesperson for Asda has responded stating that the work they are carrying out is essential maintenance for the store.

They said: "We recently had to carry out some essential maintenance at our Lower Earley store. As with any landscaping work that is carried out at any of our stores, relevant guidelines were closely followed."