Freshly-planted trees snapped by 'mindless vandals'

They were growing in Summers Park, off Strawberry Avenue, Lawford, after developers replaced a handful which had died following a previous planting scheme.

But residents were saddened to see five had been snapped in what has been described as a thoughtless, selfish act.

Carlo Guglielmi, district councillor for Lawford, Manningtree and Mistley, said he would love to have a word with the perpetrators.

The trees were snapped in Summers Park

He said: “These are mindless idiots who have snapped the trees for the sheer fun of it, I can’t see any other reason as to why they would have done this.

“It would still be wrong, but I’d understand if someone had gone out with a spade and nicked them - at least you know it will be planted elsewhere - but to just snap them in half is so selfish.

“I really would like to get hold of whoever has done this and explain to them what they have actually done. They need to be educated.

“I don’t know if it was a dare or something done in anger, but it’s inexplicable and really beggars belief.”

Mr Guglielmi has now pledged to ensure these trees are replaced for all residents to enjoy once again and to help support the environment.

“There’s no doubt about it, we will plant trees again. You can’t give in to these vandals, we have to put the environment first,” he added.

“You have to give credit to the young people of this world who have brought the environmental issues to the forefront of our minds “Tree planting is an easy thing we can all do to tackle climate change, it’s a no brainer. A tree is the easiest way to offset carbon.

“What has happened is not going to deter us going forward. Vandals are vandals, if they get into their heads that they want to damage something, then they will.

“It’s a very sad state of play, they are spoiling the benefits for so many other people, but it’s not going to deter us going forward – there is a justifiable anger about what has happened.”

As part of the police’s Operation Quasar, a scheme funded by Lawford Parish Council to provide a larger police presence in the area, there will now be special focus on the trees.

Mr Guglielmi added: “We will have the place patrolled by officers. They will be keeping an eye on the park so these mindless vandals are caught and taught how to respect the environment.”