Newborough forest, which campaigners say could be home to hundreds of red squirrels

The Countryside Council for Wales says felling the 100 hectares of forestry at Newborough is important to protect the internationally-renowned dunes.

But other conservationists, especially those looking to reintroduce red squirrels, want the trees to remain.

The area used to be all dunes, until the woodland was planted 60 years ago.

Martin Bailey, of the Friends of Anglesey Red Squirrels said: "Normally we'd say this is an artificial woodland. It shouldn't be here, but the fact is it is here and we have red squirrels.

"Unless we can preserve a core area of trees, then red squirrels will find it difficult to survive."

The endangered squirrels, being bred in captivity at the Welsh Mountain Zoo at Colwyn Bay, are set to be reintroduced into the forest, with the hope that up to 300 will make their home there.

Five years ago, there were less than 40 red squirrels on the whole of Anglesey.

But the dunes attract tens of thousands of visitors a year and conservationists say their preservation was under threat from forestry.

John Ratcliffe of the Countryside Council for Wales - also partners in the squirrel conservation project - said half measures were not possible and it wanted to return more of the area to dunes.

The dunes at Newborough are threatened by too many trees, say the CCW

The CCW says the forest on its fringes is damaging the dunes' eco-system and it is recommending that 15% of the woodland should go.

Mr Ratcliffe said: "Some people say, 'There are dunes there, why do you need the rest?' I use the analogy, it's like having an old master, a painting, you can't rip it in half and have a bit each, it doesn't work like that."

An exhibition and public meeting were held on Monday at Newborough and a final decision will be made by the CCW and Forestry Commission.