VANDALS have damaged fruit trees planted by volunteers in a community-owned field.

Open Newtown, which looks after Trehafren Fields in the town of Newton in Powys, Wales, said it was disappointed that vandalism to nature has happened.

Gary Mitchell, project officer at Open Newtown, said it is not the first time plants have been damaged.

“We have seen a number of plants damaged in the past but this one was more malicious. It wasn’t the odd tree, there were a number of stakes ripped out,” he said.

READ MORE: Fury as trees vandalised only a month after being planted

“But lets not make it all doom and gloom. Some of the trees will survive and we will replant some of them.”

Newtown food co-operative Cultivate said: “Volunteers as part of our Where the Severn Smiles project really enjoyed planting these trees and improving the area for everyone to enjoy. But we won’t give up. We will put in new stakes and tree ties and save all the trees we can.”

The damage was reported by a member of the public. Open Newtown is asking people to report any issues to them by visiting their website or phone 01686 610777.

This story originally appeared in the Powys County Times.

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