A COMMUNITY orchard, planted over a nine year period and enjoyed throughout lockdown, has been ransacked by 'mindless' vandals.

Turner's Nursery Community Orchard in Parkstone, Poole, was targeted by yobs over the February 20/21 weekend.

Trees and fruit bushes, some planted as recently as January, this year, were stolen.

Other trees were deliberately damaged, uprooted and snapped off at the base.

Charlie Annear, spokesman for the community orchard situated on the corner of Upper Road and Victoria Road, said: "This mindless destruction has affected over nine years of dedicated hard work by the Friends of Turner’s Nursery Community Orchard and members of the local community, who have planted and cared for the trees and plants in their own time."

Mr Annear told the Echo that due to many "hours of voluntary hard work in all seasons", the community orchard has become a success – enjoyed by many visitors throughout the year.

He added: "It has proven to be significantly valuable to visitors during the coronavirus restrictions, by providing a quiet and natural green space for people to take their daily exercise and enjoy the wildlife within walking distance from their homes.

"Sadly, future enjoyment of the orchard has been disrupted by this criminal behaviour.

"As several trees and bushes have been stolen and many bud-bearing branches have been ripped off the cherry and plum trees, there will be much less blossom to enjoy in the spring and much less fruit later in the year.

"This affects visitors to the orchard and the wildlife that lives there."

Stolen trees and bushes include a Monarch apple tree, a golden drop gage, a crab apple tree, gooseberry and blackcurrant bushes and more.

Mr Annear said: "Pruning has now been carried out to minimise the effects of damage and disease to the trees.

"However, with damage to the trunks, it’s not clear how many of the vandalised trees will survive either due to disease or being weakened and snapping off in storms later in the year."

A Dorset Police spokesman confirmed an investigation into the criminal damage has been launched.

The spokesman said: "We received a report at around 9.20pm on Sunday, February 21, of criminal damage to trees at the Turner’s Community Orchard in Victoria Road in Parkstone, Poole.

"It was reported that the trees were believed to have been damaged some time around 5pm on Saturday, February 20.

"No arrests have been made at this stage."

Witnesses or anyone with informatioon should call Dorset Police on 101.

If you are interested in helping with the community orchard, see the Friends of Turner’s Nursery group on Facebook, or email friendsofturnersnursery@googlemail.com for information.