Council chiefs have ordered a land owner to replant trees at a much-loved woodland after 12 were chopped down despite being protected.

The trees and undergrowth in Park Avenue in Broadstairs were removed during clearance work at the site by Parkstairs Ltd earlier this year without consent.

Protestors mounted a campaign calling for the trees to be replanted and have welcomed the move by Thanet council.

David Tate, a member of the Park Avenue Woodland Group, says he is thrilled and praised the authority.

"They worked hard and they worked well," he said.

"When we presented our petition to the council in September it was a unanimous decision to have a full report into this.

"It shows it's better to work with the council, than shout at them.

"The next step is to get this area designated as a green space."

Some 40 trees were felled from the land behind the cricket ground in February, with land owner Parkstairs writing to residents stating it was necessary health and safety work due to some dead and dying trees.

In a statement, Thanet council says 12 trees of those removed were considered to be protected by Area Tree Preservation Orders from 1956 and 1985 which cover the site.

"A Tree Replacement Notice has been served by the council which requires trees to be replanted," a spokesman said.

"This followed clearance work on the site earlier this year where a number of trees and undergrowth were removed without consent.

"Only the trees present on the site when the orders were made (and any replacements subsequently planted) can be required to be replanted by the council.

"Those trees that are self-seeded are not covered by the Area Tree Protection Order."

The authority has also this week issued a written warning to bosses at Thanet Indoors Bowls Centre after work to cut a Mountain Ash tree outside the club, which is in a conservation area, was started in October.

Works were halted and the tree was assessed by the council’s horticultural and biodiversity officer.

It is expected to regrow and will be monitored over the coming months.

A council spokesman said: "We are keen to protect trees and establish more wherever possible.

"Given existing financial constraints the council is investigating funding and collaborations with charities to support this.

"In November, Thanet council applied to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' green recovery fund in collaboration with Trees for Cities for £46k to run three community tree planting days in Ramsgate, approximately 30 mature trees for each event, and to employ a dedicated part time open spaces officer for the duration of the project.

"The climate change officer is also working with Earthwatch with the aim of creating a “tiny forest” in Thanet; a woodland the size of a football pitch as seen on Countryfile last weekend.

"As part of the council’s future biodiversity strategy, a bee plan is being prepared by the open spaces team with the assistance of the Bumblebee Trust.

"A proportion of open spaces land will be managed for pollinators, including creating semi natural habitats with a high percentage of pollinator friendly native herbs and flowers such as clover, yarrow and birds foot trefoil.

"The council is also looking to work with partners across Kent, including other Councils and Kent Wildlife Trust, for ways to most effectively protect and support biodiversity in the coming months."

Read more: All the latest news from Thanet