Frustrated by Sidings Park tree vandalism
THE chair of a Loughborough residents’ association has told the Echo it is “frustrating and annoying” that someone would damage £400 worth of fruit trees just months after they were planted in a community park.
In April, the Echo reported that Sidings Park Area Residents Association (SPARA) had created a small orchard with the help of Charnwood Borough Council and green service provider idverde.
Families living in the area, idverde staff and a ranger team came together for a day to plant the new apple, pear, quince and plum trees.
But now little remains of the trees thanks to an alleged act of vandalism.
SPARA chair Chris Rimmer told the Echo: “We planted nine trees but lost a few early on and the remaining six went back in August, they looked like they had been pulled on and snapped.
“We were very grateful because the council had put forward the money to plant the trees so we could start a little orchard. And it’s such a shame given the effort of the community and the people from idverde to put them in.
“For someone to go around and snap them all is very frustrating and annoying.
“We’re talking with the council and idverde to see what we can do because we want to improve the local environment but there’s no point putting trees in for them to be destroyed six months later. We’d have to put in older and more robust trees, but the costs goes up.”
A council spokesperson told the Echo the trees cost £400 to plant. They said: “We’re disappointed that the trees have been damaged. We’re looking at planting one or two larger trees this winter which will hopefully be less susceptible to vandalism.
We’re also investigating ways to protect the trees in future through the use of tree guards.”
A spokesperson from Leicestershire Police said: “We received a report of damage to trees that is believed to have taken place between 9am on August 17 and August 21. Enquiries are on going.”