Vandals hit Gardens

Press, 27 February 1986, Page 1

Vandals hit Gardens

Vandals on Tuesday night ringbarked a maple tree planted in the Botanic Gardens by the Queen in 1954.

The tree, which stood on the archery lawn where Saturday’s Royal garden party will be held, was removed by Gardens staff yesterday.

The trunk of the 12mhigh tree had been deeply cut and the tree could not be saved. The Town Clerk of Christchurch, Mr John Gray, said he was most disappointed the tree had been damaged. The City Council has informed the

police. The tree was the only Goldsworth purple maple in ■ the Gardens. It was planted by the Queen, using a chromium-plated spade, as ah impromptu ;event during the 1954 Royal garden party. The Queen will plant another tree on Saturday on the archery lawn.

The acting curator of the Botanic Gardens, Mr Kevin Garnett, said yesterday that a . 3m or 4mhigh tree would be planted. It had not yet been decided what species. “The Press” had an

anonymous telephone call yesterday morning from a man claiming responsibility for the damage. A group of anti-Royalists had ringbarked the tree and sprayed the archery lawn with paint and poison, he said.

Their actions were a protest against the Queen, he said. Other action might be taken. Mr Garnett said graffiti had been spray-painted on the lawn. If poison had also been used it would not show up for three or four days. The damaged tree would be replaced, he said.