environmentalists and Opposition MPs last night.

The scorched earth policy has seen trees across the Island reduced to stumps, leaving an eyesore for tourists and locals alike.

Acting Opposition Environment spokesman Erwin Adderley said some trees would never recover.

He said expertise might have been lost when the job was handed over from the Agriculture and Fisheries department to the Works and Engineering department.

Mr. Adderley said: "It's appalling.

"I would have thought in a place like Bermuda which is concerned about being a beautiful environment -- that's part of what we sell, looking nice for the locals and tourists -- that it doesn't make sense.

"Somebody has run amuck and we're saying reign him back in and teach him the skills that used to be there before.

"I just hope it's an ambitious individual who needs some more training before being let loose rather than a new policy or practice.

"I accept trees have to be pruned but it has to be done judiciously. It would appear people in charge of that section don't seem to know what they are doing.

"I don't know whether it is the personnel or it's a new direction.'' He said: "There is a considerable amount of disquiet in the community about this.

"We are just asking for the same sensitivity that was there before.'' He mocked the suggestion by Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott that trees had been butchered to encourage private land owners to do their own pruning rather than leave it to Government.

Mr. Adderley pointed out that much of the devastation had been done on Government land including North Shore Road and near the Causeway to the airport.

Government say they are keen to make sure trees and bushes don't create hazards for road users.

Environmentalist Stuart Hayward said: "All of us preferred the standard set by Agriculture and Fisheries and the Parks department in cutting trees.

"I don't know whether it's for the lack of information or some other reason.

It's distressing.

"I have seen some trees that won't grow back.''' He said one tree at Bernard's Park would never recover.

"I think in a country as densely populated as Bermuda all trees are valuable.

"Maybe we should think about when one tree is lost another one or two are planted.'' ENVIRONMENT ENV