DOG owners who enjoy walking at Upton Country Park are appalled at the “desecration” of a favourite wood.

They say Grove Wood has been decimated – stripped not only of laurel, rhododendron and undergrowth but also the wildlife they delighted in.

From dense colourful woodland, full of bird song and darting squirrels it has been turned into what resembles a “war zone” with boughs, trunks and tree litter left where they fell, they claim.

Around eight dog walkers turned up on a wet morning to make their feelings clear about the spoiling of the wood.

Among them was Geoff Foulds of Upton who said: “They have just devastated the whole place. It’s absolutely awful. It looks like a war zone.”

Mr Foulds, 72, who has been walking in the wood daily over the past 10 years, said such drastic measures spoilt the park’s appearance and it was the wrong time to do such work when birds were nesting.

“The traditions and character of Upton Country Park continue to be destroyed,” he said. “The peacocks have gone and the stiles and five barred gates have been removed.

“Now the woodland appears to be the target. What next I wonder?”

Former Poole mayor Cllr Randolph Meech, who lives at Creekmoor and walked his dog there regularly until the work was carried out, described it as “terrible”.

He said: “I don’t want Upton Park to turn into a Poole Park. It’s supposed to be a country park. They shouldn’t alter the character of it.”

Borough of Poole has defended its £6,000 cull of undergrowth, which it says took place in March, before birds nested. It is part of a £60,000 spend from developer contributions on the park.

Cllr Judy Butt, cabinet portfolio holder for public engagement and participation, said: “The laurel and rhododendron are not native to the UK and shade out native species and prevent wildflowers, brambles, nettles and tree saplings from growing.

“The leaves of laurel and rhododendron are both acidic and toxic so over time the soil is affected and the trees can become unhealthy. Insects and birds do not generally use these plants to live in or feed on so they really have very few benefits.”