Residents ‘horrified’ as trees stripped with ‘sharp implement’ in local park

Residents said they were horrified after finding trees in their nearby park stripped and damaged with what appears to be a “sharp implement”.

Lillie Harris, 30, who lives next to Manor Park, near Hither Green rail station, first discovered the damage last week but says other trees in the area have since been vandalised.

Ms Harris said: “At least three trees have sustained extensive and deliberate damage.

“I was really shocked – horrified. We’re in a climate emergency every tree counts and this pointless, will full damage has possibly killed at least one tree.”

Two of the trees have been stripped of bark almost completely around their trunks whilst the third has minor damage.

“The living bit of the tree is a very thin layer just under the bark – what they are doing is decapitating the tree bit by bit – if you cut it it cuts the top off from the roots and kills it. 

“Whoever did it has left large strips of barks on the ground and marks left on the inside of the tree which looks like cut marks made by someone using a sharp tool.

“A woman who was in the park at the same time said she had seen a group of young people causing the damage.”

Yesterday Ms Harris put up letters on the trees in an attempt to prevent further damage.

On the signs she has written “Please stop. These trees are decades old. Can we please leave them for the next few decades.”

Ms Harris said the nature of the vandalism has also caused concerns in the neighourhood around antisocial behaviour.

She said: “We’re concerned because I don’t know what they’re using  – you don’t want to get involved because that could become a risk to you.

“The trees are near a bridge where tents have recently appeared. People see bad things going on there.”

Ms Harris said she has reported the incident to Lewisham council via their online tool.

But, she said: “My serious worry is that the damage will continue before anything is done, to the point where bark damage extends fully around all these trees, which will kill them completely.”

A Lewisham council spokesman said: “We take criminal damage and vandalism to our trees very seriously. We have skilled tree officers who will be able to advise on the best course of action to protect these trees. We will be liaising with our Safer Communities team and police partners to monitor this situation.”

Pictured top: The sign Lillie Harris attached to the damaged trees in Manor Park (Picture: Lillie Harris)