Saplings cut down

DOZENS of young trees planted by schoolchildren in Eastville Park have been cut down.

The saplings, planted in the park's Everest Road field earlier this year as part of the city's One Tree Per Child project, were found cut off near the ground in April.

Plastic guards around the trees were lifted up before most of the affected plants were cut, although some had also been uprooted.

Photos of the damage were shared on the Friends of Eastville Park Facebook page.

There was speculation that the damage may have been caused by animals, with some people suggesting either deer or rabbits could have bitten through the saplings.

However an employee of the Forest of Avon Trust, which funded the project and helped plant the trees, said it was "absolutely not deer damage", adding: "Deer nibble the ends of branches and produce a rough edge, rabbits and or voles would leave teeth marks, not a clean cut. This is deliberate damage by a person with secateurs.

"We have done a lot of tree planting all over Bristol and never seen damage as bad as this."

The trust is planning a volunteer day to replace the trees at a future date.

Eastville ward Green councillor Lorraine Francis said: "When we consider the vital role that trees play in our environment, and the effort and care which went into planting these trees, it is heartbreaking that vandalism has taken place.

"These were trees planted by schoolchildren and I cannot imagine what they will think knowing that their contribution to the environment has been treated in this way."

Labour councillor Marley Bennett said: "I was really shocked to hear that a number of newly planted trees were damaged in what seems to be a thoughtless act of vandalism.

"I am sure those involved in the ‘One Tree Per Child’ project, which aims to get all of Bristol’s 36,000 children primary school children planting a tree in the city, will not be deterred by this."