Vandals set fire to newly-planted trees at Pencoedtre Park

By Ellyn Wright

6th May 2021 | Local News

The newly-planted trees at Pencoedtre Park have been burnt down in an apparent act of vandalism.

The saplings formed one of Wales' first 'tiny forests', designed to attract wildlife and improve air quality.

The project, organised by Keep Wales Tidy with the Vale of Glamorgan Council, saw volunteers and plant 1,000 trees in the area in February.

Sarah Silver witnessed the incident from her home on 4 May.

"I was stood in my kitchen and I could see a group had started to gather round the park," she told Nub News.

"I didn't think anything of it, but then I looked again and that's when I first saw the smoke over the field, and then the fire.

"I went to the front bedroom for a better look and saw that they had set the new trees alight.

"I rang the fire services straight away and they came pretty quickly to put it out but it had already burnt over half the trees planted there.

"It's a shame really. I took photos in the hope that any parents could pick out their child's clothing.

"It's just horrible watching it from the window and not being closer to try and stop it."

Keep Wales Tidy and the Vale of Glamorgan Council gave a joint statement in response to the incident:

"Over the past year, so many individuals, community groups and organisations have been working hard to make sure that post-pandemic Wales is a beautiful green land that people and nature can enjoy.

"In February, Keep Wales Tidy, in partnership with the Vale of Glamorgan Council, asked volunteers to help plant a tennis-court sized 'forest' containing 1,000 trees in Pencoedtre Park, Barry.

"This was part of a Wales-wide project that aimed to attract wildlife, improve air quality, remove harmful greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and help reduce localised flooding.

"Tragically, little over two months later, between 70 and 80 per cent of the area has been lost to a fire that appears to have been started deliberately.

"The selfish actions of a small group have destroyed something that was designed to benefit residents' wellbeing for generations to come.

"Both Keep Wales Tidy and the Vale of Glamorgan Council are devastated by this senseless act of vandalism, which has been reported to the Police.

"Together we will work hard to repair the damage and restore the forest to its former condition."

A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: "We received a report of a fire at Pencoedtre Park at around 6pm on 4th May. Officers are currently investigating CCTV footage of the scene."

     

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