Workers clearing woods and hedgerows to make way for HS2 have been accused of destroying birds’ nests at a time of year when breeding pairs are laying eggs.

Contractors for the new high-speed rail line have also faced claims they are failing maintain social distancing while pulling down trees during the coronavirus crisis.

HS2 staff in Warwickshire have come under intense scrutiny since receiving the go-ahead for work last week, despite the UK’s nationwide lockdown.

Opponents of the scheme have filmed the felling of large trees which they claimed had active nests in.

Lizzy Williams, one of the founders of campaign group Stop HS2, accused workers last week of moving fencing to prevent protesters filming the clearing of trees used by blue tits, woodpeckers and tree creepers.

Commenters described the alleged destruction of nests as illegal and “heartbreaking”, questioning why the railway scheme was going ahead during breeding season.

HS2 said it had complied with the law and that when nesting birds were discovered a temporary exclusion zone was put in place until the chicks have fledged.

The RSPB has urged people to report any illegal destruction of birds’ nests by HS2 to the police.

People monitoring the work just starting have also filmed contractors standing and working less than the recommended two metres from each other, accusing them of risking spreading coronavirus.

The footage has outraged campaigners opposed to the rail link, which will connect London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. One accused the company of a “total lack of consideration for [the] impact on wildlife or local people”.

In one clip, a large number of workers are seen moving fences as an oak tree is removed.

On Friday, HS2 was also accused of disturbing a family of badgers, leaving the cubs “panicking”.

Kate Macrae, a wildlife enthusiast, said her sister said she had seen woods being destroyed, and small badger cubs out in the road.

She later said no obvious setts had been destroyed but told The Independent: “I can’t think why cubs would be put on a lane in broad daylight unless disturbed.”

Boris Johnson gave the final green light to HS2 in February, with plans for the project over budget and behind schedule. The estimated price tag for HS2 in 2015 was just under £56bn but Europe’s largest infrastructure project is now thought likely to cost £106bn.

Last month the High Court granted an injunction to prevent protesters trespassing on several HS2 sites in Warwickshire.

On nesting birds, an HS2 spokesperson said contractors were “keenly aware of the law”, and during nesting season ecologists were present during all habitat clearance work to stop work where necessary.

They added: “Felling trees during the nesting season is legal as long as nesting birds are not harmed. When nesting birds are discovered, our team puts a temporary exclusion zone in place until the chicks have fledged.”

HS2 said this week it had launched investigations into alleged social-distancing breaches among workers.

The spokesperson added: “Our contractors are continuously reviewing their ability to work within Public Health England’s and the Construction Leadership Council’s guidelines to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of our workforce and the communities in which we are working.”

They added: “Those sites still working are doing so because they are confident they are operating within Public Health England (PHE) guidelines, and will be monitored and remain under constant review.”

HS2 said any badger sett directly affected by the project had been closed under licence as agreed with Natural England.

“Other badger setts in the woodland that are not directly in the HS2 works area have been surveyed, identified and have exclusion zones around them", its statement said.

“We have professionally qualified environmental staff on site during the works operations, and have consent from the authorised bodies, including Natural England, for all planned work.”

Some information posted on social media by anti-HS2 groups was “wrong and misleading”, the spokesperson said

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