A NUMBER of trees have been stolen and vandalised near a Wellington housing estate, having been planted by the council in December.

Wellington Town Council reported the theft and vandalisation of trees from the green space behind Lillebonne Close, on the Priory housing estate, on Monday, January 27, after council members discovered the missing and damaged saplings.

The greenery had been planted in December as part of the council’s ambitious scheme to plant 3,000 trees in a 64-acre area of land known as The Green Corridor as part of the Trust’s Woodland Creation Scheme.

In partnership with The Woodland Trust, the council hope the tree-planting scheme will enhance biodiversity throughout the town and contribute to delivering the climate change strategy.

By the end of 2024, volunteers managed to plant over 700 trees over a period of two-and-half days, across green spaces around Wellington, including a “tiny forest” near Lillbonne Close.

Due to the “significant damage” incurred, the council reported the incident on Monday morning. The police have been approached for comment.

Wellington Mayor Councillor Janet Lloyd said: “In December staff from Wellington Town Council Open Spaces Team joined with local residents around the town planting trees and shrubs in Tiny Forests at several locations, one of them was behind Lillebonne Close. Planting trees brings many benefits by improving the look of areas and helping with biodiversity and climate change issues.

“We at Wellington Town Council are saddened and upset that the trees at Lillebonne Close have been vandalised or stolen. Who did this and why? If someone has stolen the trees all they had to do was to contact the Council as we have been giving away trees again this year.”

The council are requesting that anyone with information about the incident contacts the police, quoting the reference RAC‐95J5K.