A Nottinghamshire council says it is saddened after a plantation of trees at a park was destroyed by vandals. Earlier this week, visitors to Hetley Pearson Recreation Ground in Beeston noticed around 10 young trees had been snapped.
Torn branches were left scattered on the ground, with other tree trunks appearing to have been ring-barked by a sharp object. Ian Riley, a former conservation worker who came across the trees whilst walking in the park, said the vandalism was "dreadful".
"I was furious because I love trees," the 67-year-old from Chilwell said. "The thing that worries me is the way some were hacked into. It looks as though someone had a blade in their hand.
"I think they want to look at themselves well and hard. With the state of the world at the moment, environmentally they have done a bad thing at a time when David Attenborough has showed us what we have got in this country.
"It makes me so mad." Once made aware of the damage on Thursday, April 13, a spokesperson for Broxtowe Borough Council said the council would inspect it as soon as possible.
"The trees were planted a few years ago and we’ll look to replace them in the future when the next tree planting season is here in the autumn," she said. "We are not aware of who the perpetrators are and are very saddened that a small minority is spoiling one of our beautiful parks and open spaces for other local residents."
Read next:
- Parties to publish manifestos ahead of Nottingham City Council elections
- 2 Nottinghamshire post offices 'at risk' due to compensation scheme
- Frustration in 'quiet' suburb as neighbours hit with huge bills after 18 cars smashed
- Nature reserve footbridge closed due to public safety concerns
- Plan to fine offenders who emit chimney smoke in 41 areas of borough
