Senseless vandalism at Druridge Bay reserve
At a time when conservation organisations are working to combat environmental disasters, a regional wildlife charity has been forced to divert its attention to combatting vandalism and wanton destruction.
Around 200 trees were damaged at the West Chevington nature reserve
Staff and volunteers at Northumberland Wildlife Trust have been left outraged and deeply upset that vandals have struck at two of its nature reserves in the past month.
Less than four weeks after information displays were damaged and trees were set alight at the wildlife charity’s St Nicholas Park reserve in Gosforth, Newcastle, vandals have damaged trees on its West Chevington reserve at Druridge Bay.
At the end of last week, a team of dedicated Trust volunteers turned up to a tree planting event on the reserve to be met with a scene of devastation.
After multiple sessions planting upwards of 4500 trees to create a hedgerow, canes and tree guards were strewn across the site, with others smashed to pieces. It is estimated that damage was also caused to as many as 200 trees.
Helen Walsh, Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s Biodiversity Boost Officer says:
“Our volunteers have given up days and days of their free time to plant this hedgerow in wind, rain and even snow, therefore, to see it destroyed in a mindless act of vandalism is absolutely heartbreaking for all of us.
“The hedgerow was planted with funding from the Species Survival Fund as part of the Biodiversity Boost project. This project ends in February and replacing this stretch of hedgerow will cost money and it will be a race against to repair it, instead of completing other aspects of the project.”
The incident has been logged with Northumbria Police, and the team at the Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre is reviewing footage from cameras across the site to see if the culprits can be identified.
