An application has been made by landowner Lilburn Estates to chop 568 hectares of conifer plantation at Threestoneburn Forest, near Wooler.

The deforestation project also includes new road building and quarrying proposals on 712 hectares at the forest.

And if the clearance of Threestoneburn Forest gets the green light, it would be one of the biggest landscape changes in Northumberland National Park since its designation in 1956.

The forest, located in the Cheviot Hills, was bought from the Forestry Commission in January 2007 by Lilburn Estates, run by Duncan Davidson.

It would take three years to fell, yielding about 150,000 tonnes of saleable timber.

The timber would be brought out by lorry and 1.5km of new road would be built. A further 6.4km of track would be upgraded.

This means it would be necessary to quarry 27,500 tonnes of stone. There are two existing quarries within the forest boundary and it is intended to re-open and extend both of these sites.

Habitat restoration in the cleared land would see blanket bog rise from 64 hectares to 296 hectares while grassland would increase from 18 hectares to 57 hectares.

Heathland would jump from 60 hectares to 292 hectares.

The felling would result in birds such as goshawk and crossbill being displaced.

However, birds like merlin and barn owl, as well as red-list species, including black grouse and skylark, would benefit.

The decision on whether the forest can be felled rests with the Forestry Commission, and is likely to be made early next year.

Brendan Callaghan, Forestry Commission regional director for the North East, said: "This application will require careful consideration – it is a large area of land and represents a significant change of land use.

"We have extended the consultation period and continue to welcome comments from members of the public who would like to make representations about the proposals."