HARLOW Council is appealing for the public’s help in tracking down vandals who have broken new trees and damaged a tree planting site on Second Avenue.

Trees and materials were damaged and broken between the morning of 8 February and 2pm on 9 February 2022.  The estimated cost of the damage is around £1,500. The trees, which were broken will sadly not survive. A number of tree guards and stakes were also broken and around 40 whips (small trees) were taken out of the ground. The whips will be replanted. Over 850 trees were recently planted on the Helipad area including 10 specimen trees. 

The council has described the incident as a “reckless act of vandalism” and it says that it will come as a shock to those who have been involved in planting the trees in the area. Councillor Nicky Purse, cabinet member for environment, has said that she and council staff are gutted by what has happened:

“Local families, children, scout and beaver groups, council staff, councillors and volunteers all worked together on this project to enhance the environment and respond to climate change. We are absolutely gutted to see what has happened and to see the efforts of the community treated liked this. This project is one of a series of initiatives that aim to support efforts to meet the council’s net zero target by 2040. 

“This was a reckless act of vandalism by a mindless few who sadly went to some effort to break trees and to try and destroy the hard work of the community. But, we are determined that we won’t be defeated in our efforts to do good for this town. Our first action is to work with residents to track down those responsible so this act isn’t repeated.

“The cycle track and path which passes by the area is extremely busy and the site is next to a main road, so we are hoping the public will have information to help us. We have reported the matter to the police and we hope, with residents’ help, that they will be able to investigate this and bring those responsible to justice.”

“In the meantime we are stepping up community safety patrols in the area and looking at what else we can to protect the trees left while they grow and establish themselves.”

Information can be reported to Essex Police via 101 or online at www.essex.police.uk