Parish council reports vandalism to trees in Burton Green

Burton and Winkton Parish Council has now reported several incidents of vandalism to trees on Burton Green.

The most recent was a snapped tree spotted by residents and councillors over the weekend.

Parish councillors believe it was vandalised because it was “unlikely that just high winds could have caused the damage”.

Burton and Winkton Parish Council posted a picture on Facebook of the damaged tree on Sunday, March 3 (Image: Burton and Winkton Parish Council)

Sharing a photograph of the damage on Facebook, Burton and Winkton Parish Council wrote: “What is wrong with people?

“So very disappointing that anyone of any age would think this is acceptable, it is not. Shame on you.”

It is not the first-time trees on the green have been damaged; the parish council said that three flowering cherry trees had been vandalised last year.

One was reportedly “wilfully hacked with a sharp blade removing two limbs”, while another was found with a broken limb.

Trees damaged in Burton Green (Image: Burton and Winkton Parish Council)

A third tree, replaced as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy, had been “stomped on and ripped apart close to the ground”.

The damaged stump was relocated and is being nurtured back to health.

A spokesperson for Burton and Winkton Parish Council told the Daily Echo: “This kind of malicious damage is very disappointing.

"All incidents were reported to the police."

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: "At 12.39pm on Sunday, March 3, Dorset Police received a report of criminal damage to a tree on the Burton Village Green in Christchurch.

"It is reported that a silver birch sapling was snapped in two.

"No arrests have been made."