A Hounslow bed and breakfast has been landed with a record fine after it felled six trees in a conservation area. 

Skylark Bed & Breakfast LLP, on Bath Road, has been fined £17,000 for the offence. With added costs, the total payable is £23,186.50.

The six mature trees felled were found to be within the St Paul's Hounslow Conservation Area. The fine constitutes the largest fine for felling trees ever handed out in the borough.

It was Hounslow Council officers who first discovered the company's illegal activity, bringing it to prosecution. The council said that the"trees were integral to the local landscape and played a vital role in maintaining the environmental and aesthetic quality of the area."

Property owners wanting to make changes or work affecting trees in a conservation area must first have it approved by the council to ensure compliance with conservation regulations. Not doing so could result in prosecution.

Hounslow Council states that it owns and manages more than 383 tree species and over 124,000 trees throughout the borough. It says the court case and hefty fine is proof of its commitment to protecting the area's natural features.

Cllr Tom Bruce, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Assets, Regeneration and Development, said: "We are deeply committed to protecting the natural and historic environment of our borough. Trees play a major role in mitigating against the effects of climate change and making our borough a greener and healthier place to live, which is why punishments for cutting down trees illegally are so important.

"The illegal felling of these trees was a serious offence that not only violated conservation area regulations but also deprived the community of important natural assets. This record fine sends a clear message that such actions will not be tolerated, and we will take decisive action to protect our green spaces. I want to thank our enforcement team for their diligent work in bringing this case to court."

Skylark B&B called the incident an "honest mistake" and apologised to all concerned. The company says it checked for preservation orders on the trees but found none, so proceeded, before being told of the order.

It said it would work with the local council to improve the local area "as we have always done through our business practice by adding value to the area through hard work and investment."