Vandals damaged fence at nature reserve with an '˜axe'

Owlet Plantation Nature Reserve, BlytonOwlet Plantation Nature Reserve, Blyton
Owlet Plantation Nature Reserve, Blyton
A visitor to a Blyton nature reserve was shocked to see the fence had been vandalised using what looked like an axe.

The nature lover, who did not want to be named, couldn’t believe it when he saw that someone had damaged the fencing around the car park at Owlet Nature Reserve in Blyton by something which he said looked like an axe.

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He said: “The same individuals, I would assume, have also taken it upon themselves to cut down around 12 mature and young silver birch trees and a scots pine tree in acts than can only be described as mindless vandalism.

“The site has in recent months suffered acts of vandalism where signage erected by the trust had been removed and/or damaged and bird feeders stolen, but this has, in the main, quietened down.

“The worrying thing about this new wave of vandalism is that we have someone, who is obviously not authorised to be in the reserve felling trees, wandering around with an axe, wreaking damage on the flora.

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“If the public see anyone carrying out these acts of vandalism, please report it immediately to the local police, but do not approach the perpetrator, as your safety comes first. Unfortunately, due to this and other incidents over the last year, which include numerous fires and fly tipping, the senior management team have decided to erect barriers at the car park entrance and lock the car park from late evening until 8.30am in the morning in a hope to reduce instances of anti social behaviour.”

A spokesman for the site said: “Numerous improvements are planned for the site which include, revamping and extending the car park, providing better access for wheelchairs, providing disabled car parking spaces near the gate, new signage, notice boards and a programme of tree planting as well as continuing with the work on the birch growth.

“The time span for the work is set out in a five year plan but also relies on money being raised by the trust members and management team.

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Paul Jarczewski, site manager at the Woodland Trust, said: “We’re sorry to see that someone has vandalised Owlet wood, as it is yet another incident in long line of complaints including arson and fly tipping. This is not an issue we take lightly, and in order to keep our wood safe will be introducing lockable barriers at night.

“We hope this will not affect anyone’s day-to-day use of the wood, and ask that if anyone does see or knows about illegal behaviour in the wood to contact both the Trust and local police.”

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