HERNE Farm Estate residents have accused East Hampshire District Council workmen of "destructive" and "indiscriminate" strimming along the banks of Petersfield's Riverside Walk.

Residents said the lack of plant life on the banks by the walk has led to dwindling butterfly populations.

And even plants put in during the reconstruction of the stream two years ago have been mown to the ground, according to one Harting Down couple.

Mr and Mrs Chambers said the workmen, strimming on the north bank of the walk, admitted to having no knowledge of plant species when asked.

In a letter to EHDC, they said: "Strimming along the bank thus far has been of the level few feet adjacent to the footpath, but this latest work was right down to the newly constructed wall or stream edge, and appeared to be indiscriminate, even taking down growth such as hawthorns, which were planted during the stream reconstruction two years ago.

"On speaking to the men, it was clear that their brief was to clear everything and they admitted to having no knowledge of plants, nor the history of the stream, either before or after its reconstruction."

EHDC began to strim the northern bank of the stream, which runs through the Herne Farm Estate, last week.

On completion of construction work, the stream will run from the rear of the Festival Hall to Pulens Lane.

But Mr and Mrs Chambers believe excessive strimming will affect the species of wildlife which had started to return to the area.

"This small stream, and the growth on its banks, was a small wildlife haven," the letter said.

"After the very necessary, but nevertheless destructive, reconstruction, we have just begun to see a return to how it was.

"The stream has its share of small fish and a kingfisher has been sighted. Ducks appeared for a short time in spring and we've even had a young heron checking it out.

"Sadly so far, we have seen few butterflies and that must be partly due to the lack of nettles and brambles, but we live in hopes of re- growth.

"This area is potentially valuable to our environment and should at least be the subject of an ecological study before any further wholesale clearance takes place."

Residents said a management plan is needed if wild flowers are to stand any chance of survival and have called for environmental workers to monitor the stream.

But Brian Turner, street-care manager at EHDC, said the council had no management plan for the area.

He said future work would be less "heavy handed" and would be carried out in autumn to minimise damage.

"In hindsight, we should have left it to the autumn but we were also under pressure from other residents, who said it looked unkept," said Mr Turner.

"It is an attractive area and we don't want to be heavy handed and strim everything to death.

"We have spent £400,000 doing some strengthening of the banks which were swept away by rainfall. The banks have been overgrown since this took place.

"At present, the council does not have a management plan for the area.

"We have not been treating this as an area of particular importance in terms of ecology. "Our primary responsibility is to keep the waterway clear and safe. As and when it is required, we need to carry out upkeep which might be to the detriment of the area."