People living near a historic Bristol burial ground are angry and dismayed at the felling of more than 30 trees in its grounds.

Nearly all the trees in the historic Hebron Burial Ground, in Hebron Road off North Street, Bedminster, have been cut down.

The cemetery, which is in a conservation area, is owned by a man named Pietro Mario Sansone, who is understood not to live in the UK.

Last year the council made a prevention order to stop Mr Sansone felling trees after residents complained about the plan.

But it later deemed some trees to be hazardous and gave permission to cut some down and prune them back.

Neighbours in surrounding houses think the chop is too severe and drastic.

"It's a real shame. Looking out the window on to the street lined with trees was a nice view. Now all we can see is the council flats," said Laurie Reading, 21, of Hebron Road.

"I think some people had complained about them blocking light and the leaves blocking drains but it seems a bit severe."

The cemetery, next to Hebron Court – formerly a methodist chapel – is overgrown and neglected.

But until last week its walls were lined with 30ft trees which shielded it and the overgrown brambles inside.

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said the area was a haven for wildlife and the trees shielding the cemetery prevented it being misused.

"As soon as the trees started to come down people started dumping things. I have taken several things on trips to the tip myself that other people have chucked in there," he said.

"It's also a haven for wildlife. I have seen bats, hedgehogs, birds and other wildlife. There aren't many places in Bedminster for wildlife to flourish and I wonder if some of those creatures will be back next year, now that all the trees have been cut down."

Hebron Methodist Church opened in 1854 with a plot of about half an acre for a burial ground.

The first recorded burial took place on January 9, 1858, and the last on September 11, 1965.

Nearly 1,200 people were buried here, including Mary Baker, infamous for falsely claiming to be an Indian Princess Caraboo.

The burial ground remained in the possession of the Methodist Circuit until 1968, when the church and surrounding land was sold.

Conversion of the church into accommodation, now called Hebron Court, started in 2002. Developers suggested the burial ground could become a car park and a memorial garden.

But the proposal was dropped because of opposition and the burial ground was sold separately in the same year.

Mr Sansone does not maintain the cemetery and brambles and weeds grow up to five or six feet, covering many headstones.

In July last year he tried unsuccessfully – and without the appropriate planning permission – to fell the trees surrounding the burial ground.

Bristol City Council Planning Enforcement Team stopped him – but not before three trees had been felled or partially felled.

The remains of the trees have not been removed.

A member of The Friends Of Hebron Burial Ground group submitted a planning application in the hope that the trees would be managed in an improved way, giving residents more light into their houses, stopping build-up of leaves in gutters and preventing damage to vehicles of local businesses.

Some fear this gave the owner the licence to cut them down.

Mike Meecham, chairman of the Friends, said: "From my perspective something had to be done because the trees and the entire burial ground have been completely neglected.

"What I am concerned about is that he is supposed to maintain it and keep it accessible to those who have relatives buried there, which he certainly does not.

"All the debris has also been left in the grounds so I hope the council can ensure that he clears it up."

Donald Branch, secretary to the Friends, said: "I think in taking ownership Mr Sansone took ownership of the care and upkeep of the grounds. The way he has allowed the graves to fall into the state they are in is appalling."

The Bristol Evening Post was unable to contact Mr Sansone or his representatives.