WILDLIFE enthusiasts mourning the destruction of one of Kidlington's finest trees are delighted after discovering young saplings sprouting in its place.

The 300-year-old hornbeam, in fields behind St Mary's Church, was badly damaged in a storm last August.

High winds snapped 15 major branches and after the removal of dangerous sections only the trunk remains.

Kidlington householder John Brucker, who leads the St Mary's Fields Group, said the tree's demise had been upsetting, because it was a great example of its kind.

Earlier last year, he had spotted a fungus growing on the hornbeam. The fungus was thought to be responsible for weakening its branches, but nothing could be done in time.

He said: "It was a tragedy, because the tree was a great feature of the fields.

"We were looking at ways and means of protecting it, but I think it would have been too late. The damage was already done."

However, Mr Brucker, a keen ornithologist, said the future was not all doom and gloom.

He said: "About ten saplings have started to spring up around the old tree.

"We have got a little forest there, and we're going to let nature take its course.

"With a bit of luck, the tree will rejuvenate itself."

In an annual report on the parish council-owned fields, Mr Brucker said last summer's heavy rain had filled a pond behind the church for much longer than usual, resulting in many sightings of frogs and grass snakes - as well as a kingfisher and a snipe.

He added: "We had considered creating ponds in the fields, but if this amount of rainfall continues regularly, we may not need to bother."

Volunteers from St Mary's Fields Group regularly meet at the site to carry out maintenance work on trees and paths in the conservation area.

The group next meets to carry out tree management work on Saturday, March 29, at 10am.

Mr Brucker said: "We want the fields to be great for people and great for wildlife.

"They are always giving us something interesting and there is always something new to enjoy."