RESIDENTS in Barnard Castle have expressed their outrage after mature trees were vandalised.
The damage done to a mature ash tree next to a footpath linking Woodside to Bouch Way was discovered by walkers on Tuesday.
A number of residents are questioning why someone would do this. Large chunks of bark were stripped from its trunk and discarded on the footpath. In some places the bark was stripped in a complete circle, known as girdling, which causes trees to die as nutrients cannot be transported in the soft bark.
A second tree, a mature beech on a popular dog walking route in Flatts Woods close to the bandstand, has also been vandalised.
One Barnard Castle dog walker, who did not wish to
be named, reported the incident to the police in the hope they can stop the perpetrators before more trees are damaged.
He said: “This really made me mad. I only noticed it on Sunday because I don’t walk that route every day. It was fine the week before. They’ve completely stripped the bark around the trunk about two foot up and the tree will probably die.
“It’s just so wrong and I don’t know why anyone would do this.”
In May there were also reports another tree, this time in Deepdale Woods, had also had its bark stripped.
BARNARD Castle Police are appealing for information about damage to two trees in the play park at Wesley Terrace in Middleton-in-Teesdale.
The vandalism took place on Monday, June 5, and Tuesday, June 6.
The bark was stripped off two young trees which are now expected to die.
Anyone with any information about the damage can contact PCSO Liz Finn by emailing Elizabeth.Finn@durham.police.uk
