ENVIRONMENTALISTS today pledged to monitor a felling programme at an East Lancashire stately home, after it was revealed some trees could present a danger to the public.

The National Trust have applied to Burnley Council to fell more than 30 trees in two projects at Gawthorpe Hall, Padiham, which are currently covered by a tree preservation order.

The first project will thin down 36 trees to 18 in a lime avenue and the second will help towards establishing a walled garden for the public in the grounds of the estate.

Stephen Taylor of Gawthorpe Environmental Group, said he would keep an eye on which trees were to be felled to make sure the felling was necessary.

He said: "If it was not necessary for the trees to be cut down, we would say so and ask them to go about it in another manner.

"We are going to look at all the aspects and the reasons why they have to do this."

A spokesman from the National Trust said that on an avenue 36 lime trees had been planted 30thirty years ago but that only 18 now were needed. And that trees on a walled garden had been growing unchecked for 20 years.

He said: "It is all part of an continuing maintenance programme."

Gawthorpe Hall was built between 1600 and 1605 and was the home of the Shuttleworth family for almost 400 years.

It was taken over as a joint partnership between the National Trust and Lancashire County Council in the 1970s.

The grounds include types of beech, oak, chestnut, horsechestnut and elm.

David Chadwick, manager at Gawthorpe Hall, said he could not comment on the specific application because it was made by the National Trust and he was employed by the county council.

He said: "It sometimes happens that trees have to be taken down because they are a danger to people.

"The last major planting in Gawthorpe was in the 1860s and 70s which were beech trees and are now getting towards the end of their life. They can pose a danger when you get severe storms, so they have to be felled.

"There are old and historic trees in the grounds of which we are proud, but the National Trust would not fell trees willy-nilly."

James Howell, Burnley historian, said that a number of diseased trees in Towneley Hall had been felled in recent years because they posed a danger to surrounding trees.

He said: "Unfortunately, very old trees have had to come down because they are diseased. But sometimes it is necessary."