'Heartbreak' as vandals destroy Covid memorial trees

It is not the first time the woodland has been targeted by vandals, the councillor said

Twenty-five trees planted in a Covid memorial woodland have been destroyed by "mindless vandals", a councillor has said.

Trees belonging to the Queen Elizabeth II Covid Memorial Woodland in Strine Park and King Charles III Community Orchard in Victoria Park, Newport, have been snapped and torn down.

Peter Scott, a councillor for Newport who was involved in the woodland tree planting from the start, said the vandalism was "soul-destroying".

"It is a quiet, peaceful place but at the moment it is just full of devastation and it is quite honestly heartbreaking," he said.

West Midlands Police said they have passed the incident on to the safer neighbourhood team

Early morning dog walkers discovered the damaged trees, which were all in bloom, on Wednesday, he said.

"I went down there and you can imagine the disappointment and the upset this has caused.

"It is very upsetting anyway because each tree costs around about £60 to buy but more importantly they are community areas and we have managed to get lots of volunteers planting the trees so they really belong to everyone."

It is one of several vandalism incidents that have been reported.

The Covid Memorial Woodland was originally planted on 7 February 2022.

The apple, pear, plum and damson trees were planted by volunteers in 2023, as a lasting tribute to the Coronation of King Charles III.

A number of trees were damaged in the parks in January, then in February, and then again a week later, Scott said.

"It is becoming too frequent, this is anti-social behaviour of the worse kind," he added.

Early morning dog walkers first spotted the damaged trees

"It is terrible but I won't give up, if the vandals win why bother doing anything?"

West Mercia Police said the incident has been passed to the Safer Neighbourhood Team for further inquiries.