Call for visitors to rally against vandals targeting a picturesque Hartlepool park after a surge in attacks

A handkerchief tree bought five years ago by the Friends of Ward Jackson Park and planted by school children was destroyed last week.

Youngsters are also said to be damaging the park's' bowling green by playing on it and have been aggressive when challenged.

Out of five trees bought by the friends at a cost of £1,250, just two remain including one where the top has been vandalised.

They were planted with help from West Park Primary School pupils and the Friends of Hartlepool Wild Green Spaces group.

Jane Rollo, chair of the Friends of Ward Jackson Park, said: “It's a shame they can’t find something better to do.

"It takes a lot of effort to raise £1,250 to start with. For the trees to have got so far and grow so well then people still think it’s ok to pull them out is very disappointing.

"The more things that are wrecked the less likely we are to be able to keep the park in good condition because things just can’t be replaced easily.”

The handkerchief trees were planted around the large grassed area in Ward Jackson Park.

Jane added one of the them was 'smashed up’ around a year ago. A cherry tree planted near the children’s walkway has also come under attack.

Regarding recent damage to the bowling green by young people playing on it, she said: “They don’t realise they are ruining the surface.

"People have tried to stop them but they become aggressive.”

The friends group raised the money for the trees from events such as their Easter and summer fun days when all proceeds are ploughed back into improvements for the park.

Jane appealed for anyone who sees anyone damaging the park to contact police on the non-emergency number 101 or to enforcement officers whose details can be found on at the Place in the Park cafe.

Hartlepool Borough Council got permission to put a series of new CCTV cameras in the town’s parks, including Ward Jackson, last year.

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