Young vandals butcher borough woodland to build a den

Callous vandals have attacked trees in a popular borough woodland.

Around 10 mature trees were deliberately and crudely felled and many more seriously damaged in the woods between Red House Farm fields and the new Redrow development in Lowton recently.

It has raised fears of danger to local wildlife and the safety of youngsters using sharp implements.

The damage – thought to have been inflicted with an axe – was spotted by a member of the public who described it as “unacceptable”.

Pictures show a ramshackle-looking den built out of the hacked-up timber, with the perpetrators believed to be children.

Coun Edward Houlton, who represents Lowton on Wigan Council, condemned the actions of those responsible.

He said: “Children shouldn’t be cutting trees down.

“It’s not safe for them to do this and they they could hurt themselves.

“This does destroy a habitat for wildlife and trees need to be protected to stop pollution.”

He added he would report the matter to Wigan Council.

The walker, who made the discovery and asked not to be named, said: “Unbelievable amounts of damage done over this weekend, in the scant woodland between Red House Farm fields and the new Redrow development.

“From the looks of the ramshackle den, it seems to be the work of some bored kids.

“If yours have been out this weekend with an axe and building dens, please tell them that cutting down live trees is criminal damage to private property, destroys precious habitat and is totally unacceptable.

They added: “I highlighted the issue as I’m keen to improve wider appreciation of our vanishing greenspaces in the Liverpool-Manchester conurbation and how abuse such as I’ve called out has to be challenged and re-educated against.

“I heavily depend on my local greenspace to conserve my mental health during lockdown, or similar. It’s for this reason the damage has been doubly-upsetting.”

According to the government website, before anyone can cut down trees, they may need to get a felling licence from the Forestry Commission.

They said it is an offence to fell trees without a licence, where one would have been required.

Advice on how to report instances of suspected illegal tree felling can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-suspected-illegal-tree-felling

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