Ancient woodland at Crumlin is under threat from quad bikers, according to local councillors.
Plaid Cymru’s Vera Jenkins and Keith Lloyd have appealed to riders of off-road and quad bikes not to use the area near the Pen-y-Fan Industrial Estate.
Cllr Jenkins, who is also the Mayor of Caerphilly County Borough, said: “This privately-owned woodland has been dedicated as a site of importance for nature conservation in our local development plan for its fauna and flora. It has also long been used as a breeding and maternity site for Daubenton’s bats.
“We are concerned that this habitat is being eroded and destroyed by the riders who may not understand what they are damaging.”
Fellow Crumlin councillor Keith Lloyd said that he was concerned that an individual or individuals was chopping down trees, presumably to collect firewood for use or sale.
“This area of woodland is around one to two acres but contains lot of interesting flora and fauna. There are protected flowers like bluebells and we would appeal to riders not to use this area. This destruction must be stopped and if anyone knows whose chopping down trees they should report them to the police.”