A row about how Kerswell Down should be managed has split the committee which looks after it.

Now the Downs Committee has agreed to survey residents to find out what they want.

The 30 acres of unimproved limestone grassland were gifted to the parish in 1997 by the local squire. A designated County Wildlife Site, it is an extremely rare habitat in Devon supporting several nationally scarce species.

Several committee members want to manage the area to promote biodiversity, which involves cutting down trees. But they face fierce opposition from those who want to keep the trees and 'let nature to take its course'.

Former committee member, Marilyn Kenyon, said the row had been going on for years.

'People are so worked up about this. It is so sad that a lovely space like that causes so much controversy. Why can't we all agree?'

Cllr Phil Cooke is County Council executive support member for biodiversity. He is also a founder member of the Kingkerswell Natural History Society and member of local conservation society. He wants to widen the woodland footpaths to let in more light to encourage ground flora. He would also like to see more woodland glades created and to thin the woodland to allow remaining trees to reach their full size.

But tree warden, Dennis Bramble, says that a survey carried out seven years ago shows his views have little support.

Out of 92 responses only eight were in favour of clearing back woodland. The majority said they wanted things left as they were with 21 expressing opposition to tree felling.

Mr Bramble said: 'There is no way they can claim they are speaking with popular support.

'What is so puzzling is that they are out and out conservationists. They seem to be concentrated on a narrow vision of entymology based on butterflies.

'I'll never forget about the chopping down of quite a large ash tree just because it cast shadow on a plant bearing butterfly eggs,' he said.

Mr Bramble claims that dirty tricks have been employed to get rid of the unwanted trees, including 'ring barking', causing them to die slowly.

He said his plan to regenerate the woodland by planting 150 oak seedlings met with opposition, even putting up bird boxes.

Cllr Cook denied employing any dirty tricks. He said those trees which had been ring-marked were on that part of the Down being managed as grassland.

He added that the 2001 survey did not ask the public how the woodland should be managed, which is why he wants a new survey.

'I have to say I don't know of any professional ecologist or woodland expert who agrees with Mr Bramble. He has quite unique views that woodland should be left to nature but to my mind this is just neglect.'

In previous centuries he says grazing animals would have done the job naturally but now that they had been removed, man had to intervene.

The parish council will decide how the survey will be carried out at its next meeting. It will take place in January, with a written management document being produced in March or April.

Lynne Kenderdine, a county wildlife sites officer with Devon Wildlife Trust, has offered to make a free advisory visit to try to resolve the friction.

'It's all about bringing a balance – it's great that the site has so much passionate interest.'