Margery Osborne and Thomas Paterson own the land at Cumberland Avenue, but have failed to replant 28 trees felled in May and June 2011.

On Tuesday, April 15, council contractors – escorted by the police – moved onto the site to implement the notice directly by planting the trees themselves.

The council workers concentrated on clearing logs and debris from the areas that are to be replanted.

Argyll and Bute Council has also served two further enforcement notices on Mrs Osborne and Mr Paterson on March 26 this year, requiring the removal of building materials which have been stored on the land for some time without authorisation, and for the removal of a two-metre high fence on Cumberland Avenue, which was erected in summer 2013 without planning permission, to be removed.

Unless the owners appeal to the Scottish Government, both notices will come into force on April 24.

The fence would need to be removed no later than May 15 and the building materials no later than May 22.

However, the owners have responded to this latest enforcement notice, by making a retrospective planning application for the fence, arguing it has been erected for health and safety reasons because land inside the fence is uneven due to large tree stumps and stored logs.

David Adams, of Helensburgh Community Woodlands Group, who has campaigned to restore the protected woodland, welcomes the ‘decisive action’ taken by the council.

He told the Advertiser: “It is clear Argyll and Bute Council has now lost patience with these landowners. We have long called on the council to take robust action and it is heartening to see this happen. We trust the owners will be made to reimburse the council for the full cost of the work undertaken this week, including all administrative expenses, as specified in the relevant legislation.” A spokeswoman for Argyll and Bute Council confirmed that work is being done on the site, she said: “The council, supported by a plant contractor, started work on Tuesday, April 15 to replant the trees that were identified by the Scottish Government Reporter to be felled unlawfully by the landowner.

“We obtained access to the site with the co-operation of the landowner and diggers will clear the area initially, and then the trees shall be planted by the council.” The landowners were unavailable for comment.