HAMPSHIRE Wildlife Trust is to embark on a programme to improve the habitat at one of its most visited sites.

The trust is to cut down dozens of trees in the woods which dot the unspoiled chalk grassland at St Catherine's Hill.

It is concerned that the trees are crowding out other plants and animals, and so limiting the wildlife potential.

Thinning work will be done at the beech wood in the centre of the hill fort; the ash wood over-looking Garnier Road; the sycamore wood at the top of Plague Pits Valley; and the wood overlooking Hockley junction.

Warden Mark Langford said the aim was to enhance the area by opening up the woods to allow in sunlight.

"There are blocks of woodland that are all very dense and there is low bio-diversity. There is nothing underneath the trees apart from nettles. We want to introduce glades, rides and coppicing. It is about increasing the value as a wildlife habitat."

The job will start this winter and take about ten years. "We have got to do it gradually otherwise the next time it is windy they will all fall over. We have to allow the roots time to develop."

Mr Langford explained the problem stemmed from the sud-den end of stock grazing on the hill about 50 years ago as agricultural practices changed. As a result the woods grew and all the trees are about the same age and the same height creating the uni-formity which inhibits flora and fauna.

The trust has introduced grazing of sheep on the reserve to prevent scrub growth and stimulate rare plants.

The reserve attracts 100,000 visitors a year and is more popular now that the A33 bypass, which cut it off from the city, has been removed.

Mr Langford said: "We can cope with the current levels but if it increases dramatically then that could have a devastating effect. The reserve is prone to erosion because of the thin soils and steep slopes.''

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