tree felling at nesting time

My local council has earmarked an area of woodland and open space - rich in birdlife, dormice, badgers - for a business park. When I was there last week I noticed that many of the trees had blue dots painted on them, which I assume means they're to be felled. My understanding is that there is no law about felling trees in the nesting season, but that it's an offence to interfere with an active nest. Is this right, and if so, is there anything we can do to prevent these trees being felled now?