An Otumoetai resident is furious after discovering a large number of native trees have been cut down from within a Tauranga City Council reserve.

The felled trees including up to six mature Pohutukawa as well as Rimu, Pittosporum and other native trees have been cut down and left in a heap in McCardles Bush just off Grange Road.

Some of the native trees that have been felled at McCardles Bush.

The female resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, found the cut down trees during a photography excursion in the bush land and suspects the trees may have been cut down by a nearby property owner looking to improve their view.

'It's criminal, the devastation is horrendous,” says the resident.

'They've just destroyed, crushed and squashed so many trees.

'No attempt has been made to clean up the resulting mess of foliage and logs. Other natives have been crushed under the weight.”

The woman has a personal attachment with McCardles Bush, having helped the late Sandy McCardle plant much of the area around 30 years ago, and says she is devastated.

The woman claims the fence line between the private property is clearly defined and the trees have been cut down approximately 8-10 metres inside the reserve boundary.

She also says another neighbour told her the house in question had been for sale.

'I think they either cut it before they sold it to get a better price or the new person's come in and done it.

'This is a very serious offence and I believe this person will meet the full force of the law.”

A Tauranga City Council spokesperson says the council was made aware of the issue on Thursday and is investigating.

'It's a serious matter. It's going to take a bit of time to establish what happened and where the responsibility lies.”

She says the repercussions of the chopping are dependent on the outcome of their investigation.

'There are a few actions we can take under the Resource Management Act. They may include an infringement notice, an abatement notice, a prosecution, or an order to rectify the damage through a replant.”