'We won't let vandalism win in our town' - Heartbreak as memorial woodland hit by vandals days after trees were replaced
Yet more trees have been ruined by vandals in Newport, with eight in the town's Covid memorial woodland targeted in the latest attack.
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Less than a month after several trees were damaged by vandals in Newport's King Charles III Community Orchard, yet more trees in the town have been ruined.
This time, eight trees in the Queen Elizabeth II Covid Memorial Woodland in Strine Park have been snapped - almost exactly three years after the woodland was first planted.
It's the third time that such an incident has taken place in Newport in recent months - with the latest happening just one week after most of them were replaced following a different bout of vandalism.
"The woodland was originally planted three years ago on February 7, as a place for people to come and reflect on the impact Covid had on them and their families," explained Newport councillor Peter Scott.
"We had replaced six of them only a week ago and someone has come along and damaged all six of them plus two others.
"I don't know what's happening. We talk about 'mindless' but, in a way, I'd prefer it was mindless rather than what this seems to be."
Both the memorial woodlands in Strine Park and the community orchard in Victoria Park were planted by teams of volunteers.
"We get a lot of local volunteers that get involved in tree planting," added Councillor Scott.
"They put themselves out, give up their time so we can have something that is beautiful - but it appears that someone or some groups somewhere don't want that."
It's estimated that each tree costs between £40 and £50, meaning the latest incident has caused up to £400 of damage - money that Councillor Scott said "isn't lying around".
Following the incident in Victoria Park last month, officers with Newport's Safer Neighbourhood Team were asking the community to come forward with information.
Councillor Scott has also shared a crime reference number (122i10022025) for the latest incident and is appealing for anyone with information to get in contact with the police.
"We'll find a way to replace them, we will beat this. We won't let vandalism win in this town," he added.
Those with information can also contact the Newport Safer Neighbourhood Team via email on: newport.snt@westmercia.police.uk.
