A LOCAL farmer had a nasty shock recently, when between 200 and 300 sapling trees were vandalised twice in a matter of days.
Chris Butler of West End Farm in Froyle, visited a piece of land he owns in Holybourne on Good Friday to find the saplings damaged. The young bush plants, which were planted to form a rural hedgerow, had had their trunk guards and support sticks removed.
After gathering the sticks and guards that were left strewn across the site, Mr Butler spent over two hours reattaching the items to the saplings.
When Mr Butler returned to the site (located between Holybourne Hill and the Manor Estate) on Tuesday, April 2, the same thing had happened again, only this time, the vandals had taken most of the guards and supports with them.
The guards are designed to stop rabbits from eating the juvenile foliage, and without them, it is likely that many of the plants will not survive.
Mr Butler said: ÒThe most annoying thing is that people are always complaining that farmers destroy the land and that hedgerows are disappearing, and then when we try and do something for the environment, something like this happens.
ÒI am absolutely distressed that people can do this for enjoyment when we are trying so hard to improve the countryside and the environment.
ÒWe spent around £6,000 putting these saplings in, and we have spent around £15,000 in the past few years on similar conservation projects. There is now more hedgerow in this area than was ever taken out.
ÒWe have had lots of trouble with access on to the field. There is some right of access around the perimeter, but people walk right down the middle of the field, ride motorbikes around it and ride horses along it.
ÒWhen I found the damage, I also saw a woman walking across the field, and I was so angry about the saplings that IÕm afraid she got quite an earful.
ÒThe purpose of these conservation strips is to attract wildlife into the area and to encourage the growth of wild flowers and vegetation. The problem is that these areas attract people as well because they are attractive, and I just donÕt know how to stop it.
ÒWe think that it was children, because some were seen in the vicinity with mud all over them and someone told me that they saw similar muddy children walking along with lots of sticks.
ÒWe have replaced as many of the guards as were left at the site, and we have ordered some more from our suppliers, but we didnÕt want to do a full replacement until the schools went back.
ÒAnother frustrating thing is that even in the offenders are caught, they will probably be too young to be punished.Ó
The vandalism is currently under investigation by local police, and anyone with information is urged to contact PC Clive Brown at Alton Police on 0845 045 45 45.