SIR PAUL McCartney has struck a deal with planners to demolish estranged wife Heather's country hideaway - so he can save his own bird-watching hut.
The former Beatle has been getting over his bitter marriage split by spending hours alone viewing rare species on his sprawling estate.
Macca's bird-watching hut and Heather's £1million log cabin were built three years ago in the grounds of his home in Peasmarsh, East Sussex.
But council planners threatened to bulldoze both buildings, because they were built without permission. Sir Paul begged for a compromise, saying flattening Heather's former hideaway would "more than compensate" for keeping the wildlife pavilion.
He promised to use the platform for recreational purposes only. The cabin was used by Macca and Heather for romantic nights.
He let the ex-model live there after they separated last May, so they could both have regular access to two-year-old daughter Beatrice. But as their bitter divorce battle raged on and Heather, 39, rarely visited the McCartney estate, he decided to get rid of it.
Macca, 64, is now an expert at spotting the many rare species - including long-eared owls, grey wagtails, red kites and bearded tits - who nest on his 933 acres.
Bird-fancier Macca - who sang The Girl is Mine with Michael Jackson on a hit duet in 1982 - was said to be overjoyed after the hide was saved from demolition by council planing bosses.
A source said: "Paul is a real naturelover and finds sitting down by the lake, watching all the rare birds and creatures, really relaxing.
"He is going through a tough time at the moment so it is a great place to go to get away from things.
"Paul was a bird lover as a kid and has now become a real expert at spotting all kinds of species."
Heather, meanwhile, is surrounding herself with close friends to get through the divorce.
Last week, she and 40 loyal pals, including at least two former lovers, celebrated her 39th birthday at a remote Slovenian hotel.
The source said: "Heather and Sir Paul are relaxing in their own way before the biggest divorce showdown in history."