‘Guerrilla gardener’ counters vandalism
THERE was outrage after a number of trees that had been newly planted on a Cardiff street were snapped and broken.
Police launched an investigation after the trees that had been placed in parking bays on Roath’s Wellfield Road were targeted by vandals less than 24 hours after being installed.
Student Jordan-Lee Wilson was so upset he decided to take his own action and plant some trees to replace the ones that had been broken.
His friend, Nathan Goldup-John, wrote on Twitter: “One of my friends (who is stuck in Cardiff during lockdown) got so angry about #WellfieldRoad trees went out and bought a new one! #GuerillaGardener - what a great boy!”
Jordan-Lee, who lives close to Wellfield Road, explained: “It was just such a shame to see the stumps from these trees sticking out from the pots, and even sadder that they’d been there for less than 24 hours.
“So when I walked past Rainbow Bargains and saw the little Acer tree for sale, I just thought ‘I’m going to plant that.’
“I study a masters in Urban Design at Cardiff University and we have discussed these sorts of things in the past, and how a little bit of care and ownership of our public spaces can make people feel a little bit better and safer too.”
The council has confirmed that the tress will be replaced after more than £1,500 of damage was caused, but the gesture by the resident to plant his own trees has been praised.
Local artist Nathan Wyburn said “well done”, while another described the gardener who planted the new trees as a “fabulous person”.
Police have confirmed that they are investigating criminal damage to the trees which was reported at 11.40pm on Sunday.
The council carried out work over the weekend to install the trees and add temporary barriers to help local businesses as they start to reopen.
“The new safety barriers and trees have replaced some of the on-street parking spaces.
They said the work was part of a pilot “to create safer spaces for the public in neighbourhood shopping areas”.
But by Sunday night some of the trees, which cost around £350 each, had been snapped and broken.
Council leader Huw Thomas has said he couldn’t believe it when he was told what happened and described it as a “narrow minded selfish thing to do.”
He said the trees were only there as a temporary measure and there had been plans to relocate them to other parts of the city where they could have had a “100-year life span”.
Mr Thomas added: “We are hopeful we will be able to track these culprits down.
“This is not the way we want people to act in Cardiff.”