step in the destruction of one of Bermuda's largest remaining woodlands.

That is the view of Government Parks superintendent Mr. Jeremy Madeiros who lives next to the wooded area in Jennings Land, Smith's.

Mr. Madeiros and his wife, Leila, are objecting to an application by neighbour Mr. Louis Mowbray to "zone'' part of his land to build one "unit''.

They claim one approval could lead to others gradually eroding the edge of the woodland which plays home to many migratory and native birds.

Mr. Mowbray, president of the Chamber of Commerce and a Bank of Bermuda senior executive, appeared at the Objections Tribunal to object to the Bermuda Plan which has zoned his land as "rural/woodland reserve'', thus preventing building.

But Mr. and Mrs. Madeiros also appeared at the tribunal held in the Cabinet Building in Hamilton. The three-person board is looking into some 400 objections to the Bermuda Plan.

Mr. Mowbray is seeking to build on his parcel of land south of North Shore Road, close to Flatts Village. He claims the area needs some degree of management and the trees provide shade which prevents much life beneath them.

The area has an abundance of spice and fidelwood trees which took over from cedars in the 1940s.

Mr. Madeiros said: "It is not only mature woodland but one of the oldest continual pieces of woodland in Bermuda.

"Bermuda used to be known as a lush, densely wooded island. When you approached by sea you could not see the houses for the cedar trees. It is now increasingly difficult to find any large undeveloped areas of woodland. This is one of the six largest areas of woodland left in Bermuda.'' He said the woods and scrub areas were essential for birds like the thrush and provided areas for migratory birds. Also catbirds and Chick-of-the-Village were among a variety of birds nesting there.

Mr. Madeiros added: "Many birds are in serious decline because of lessening of woodlands. They need to forage in areas away from dangers like house cats and disturbance by humans.

"If this objection was accepted it would set a precedent and it would be difficult to stop somebody else doing the same. It would take away the value of the area.'' Mr. Mowbray said he did not believe the area should stay as it was because of the difficulty any other plants had growing there.

Chairman Mr. Jack Lightbourn said the tribunal would announce a decision in December.