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Residents' upset as trees destroyed by vandals

  • Vandals have destroyed five young trees
  • East Riding of Yorkshire Council provided the trees
  • The trees recently blossomed for the first time
  • Elloughton-cum-Brough In Bloom members are upset by the destruction
BBC Leonard Stockdale holds one of the upended treesBBC
Leonard Stockdale with one of the upended trees

Trees have been destroyed by vandals, angering members of a gardening group.

It is believed around five blossom trees, planted two years ago by East Riding of Yorkshire Council, were targeted.

Elloughton-cum-Brough In Bloom members, who helped care for the trees, are said to have been left "really, really upset".

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has told the group it intends to replace the trees later this year.

A young tree is snapped at the trunk
The remains of one of the trees off Welton Road, Brough

Leonard Stockdale, 81, was pictured trying to salvage some of the damaged trees, off Welton Road.

He said: "It's disgusting. These trees blossomed for the first time this year. They looked an absolute picture.

"A lot of people round here really look after them, using water from the beck to keep them hydrated during dry spells."

Coleen Gill, chair of Elloughton-cum-Brough in Bloom, thinks the trees were targeted on Sunday evening.

She said: "We are really proud of our area. We can't understand why anyone would do this.

"The council has been providing us with trees and plants for the past 21 years. A lot of the time we share the planting. We then look after them, watering them regularly."

Ms Gill plans to report the damage to police.

A spokesman for East Riding of Yorkshire Council said: “We are planning to replace these vandalised trees in Brough later this year. 

“It’s the council’s policy to replace any damaged of vandalised trees and planting usually happens in the winter season.”