Protesters fell tree

Press, 22 April 1986, Page 1

Protesters fell tree

Anti-Royalists have felled a tulip tree — the stump of which is shown above — planted in the Botanic Gardens by the Queen during her recent •visit. Staff at the Gardens discovered the vandalism when they arrived at work yesterday, the day of the Queen’s sixtieth birthday. No-one has claimed responsibility for the vandalism. A slogan protesting

against the Treaty of Waitangi was also spraypainted on the grass near the felled tree. The Christchurch police are investigating the vandalism, which is believed to have happened on Sunday night. Mr Neiel Drain, the Christchurch City Council’s director of parks and recreation, said yesterday that consideration was

being given to replacing the tree. It was “perhaps unfortunate and a little sad” that some people did not realise the value of trees, which were part of Christchurch’s heritage, he said. Earlier this year, antiRoyalists claimed responsibility for the ringbarking of a maple tree which the Queen had

planted in the Botanic Gardens in 1954. The trunk of the 12m tree was deeply cut and the tree could not be saved. The vandalism happened two days before the Royal garden party at the Botanic Gardens. Lawn at the gardens was also spray-painted. A man who telephoned “The Press” and claimed responsibility for the damage said that the actions were a protest against the Queen.