Greenwich: Vandals strip bark from Plumstead Common trees

Images taken at Plumstead Common in Greenwich, south-east London, show that large segments of the bark surrounding tree trunks have been torn off, and a number of trees have been left in a state beyond saving.

Greenwich Council released an appeal revealing the vandalism on Friday, May 14, and have urged anyone who has information or sees someone harming trees in the borough to get in touch with police.

READ MORE: Over 40,000 trees to be planted as Urban Tree Challenge Fund reopens

They said they were "sad to say" that a row of young sapling trees in Plumstead Common have had their bark ripped off from the trunk, allegedly by vandals.

The council said they are hopeful they can save four of the damaged trees, all of which were protected by wire meshing.

But the rest of the damaged trees will not survive, and will have to be replaced during the planting season this autumn.

Commenting on social media, one person said they went to have a look at the damage, and described it was "bizarre" that someone had "spent time to strip around 20 saplings of their bark".

Another said it was unfortunately not a new problem, with chestnut trees planted on the common targeted in previous years.

One said they thought the cause was 'dog training', with the trees bent down for their dogs to grab.

This story originally appeared in the News Shopper.

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