Worried residents can rest assured that recent bulldozer activity on a former orchard in Fant in Maidstone does not represent any renewed attempt to build on the land.

Residents fought three battles over many years to stop attempts from Gleeson Homes to build homes on nearby Fant Farm, finally winning on appeal.

They then had to fight again to stop a bid to include the site in the Maidstone borough's Local Plan Review - again successfully.

Recently a bulldozer has been pushing grubbed-up Bramley apple trees into piles on a plot of land just south west of Unicumes Lane.

The area is believed to be in a different ownership from Fant Farm proper.

Fant ward councillor Paul Harper said: "There is no need for concern. Nothing has changed since the Government inspector ruled that this site was unsuitable for development and no new planning applications have been submitted."

Gareth Owen, the chairman of the Save Fant Farm residents group that fought so successfully to oppose previous development plans, said: "This was an old orchard that had been neglected for many years. The trees were actually grubbed up around December last year. I expect the farmer has simply been pushing the trunks into piles ready to burn them."

But a resident from Upper Fant Road was still critical. Suzanne Mayes said: "The trees may have been dead, but ground cover has still been destroyed at the optimum bird nesting period.

"I witnessed countless birds flying around obviously having lost their nest sites and young."