Trees planted 39 years ago by students decimated
IF you are approaching your 50th birthday and as a child attended Beechmont Primary School there is every chance you helped plant a stand of saplings on the large reserve next to the now closed school.
The good news is those trees you helped plant have flourished and have now grown to more than 20 metres tall.
The bad news is many of them have recently been attacked and ringbarked and are now at the risk of dying.
The butchering of around 14 of the trees was discovered by local resident Colin Pearce who took photos of the damage and posted the images on the Everything Beech Mountain Facebook site.
The post dismayed many locals with some labelling it as a crime that needed to be investigated and called for the culprits to be punished.
Amongst them was Sarah Cleworth who said those who attacked the trees had to be held accountable and shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it.
“This vandalism has not only devastated locals, they also represent prosecutable crimes,” she said.
“The old school site where the trees were attacked has been a community hub for many years.
“The planting of the trees was part of native forest rehabilitation initiative instigated by former Beechmont school principal David Murphy back in 1985.”
Colin Pearce said he had called in experts to try and save the trees, but they had advised there was little hope anything could be done.
“I have done my best to try and patch them up and have even used Glad Wrap around the ring-barked areas,” he said.
Cr Stephen Moriarty said when he was informed of the matter earlier this month he immediately referred it to council officers for investigation.
“It’s understandable that local residents are disappointed and dismayed by this and we are trying to find out who is responsible,” he said.
“Council will be sending a letter to every Beechmont resident asking if anyone knows anything about the incident to come forward.”
Cr Moriarty said council had the ability to apply a range of penalties against the offenders and they wouldn’t hesitate from doing just that.
