Trees that were planted for the Queens Platinum Jubilee are being vandalised as well as dying due to heat and lack of water.

To mark the royal occasion Bicester town Council (BTC) in conjunction with Cherwell District Council (CDC) planted 70 trees around the town throughout June, with Bicester’s mayor Alex Thrupp planting the first one in Garth Park on Saturday, June 4.

The following 69 trees were planted at various locations including Langford Garden, Manston park and Holm Square.

The effort came as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative, as scheme led by Cool Earth in partnership with the UK Government and the Woodland Trust, which began in May 2021 with the aim to protect the UK’s tree cover.

Now, just two weeks after the final tree was planted, residents have started sharing photos on Facebook of the young saplings’ leaves turning brown and falling to the ground.

One resident said: “Why would they plant the trees now, at the peak of summer?

“Any decent horticultural business would wait until Autumn; it’s throwing money away and killing poor young trees for the sake of a few months of waiting.

“I’m sure Her Majesty wouldn’t have minded if they were planted in Autumn.”

Chairman of the town council’s policy committee Donna Ford said: “I would like to take this opportunity to commend residents who have watered young trees during the current dry spell.

“Our outdoor team, alongside contractors, are doing their best to cover the town during this hot weather, so residents watering them has helped immensely.”

Councillor Nick Cotter said: “Local residents have rightly been concerned and upset about a lack of watering of the new trees.

“I have been in contact with our Chief Officer at Bicester Town Council and responsibility for watering the trees lies with Cherwell District Council through their landscape contractor Nicholsons.

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In addition to the heat stress and lack of watering, Bicester Town Council received reports from members of the public that some of the trees had been uprooted and stolen while others had been deliberately damaged.

Ms Ford said: “We as a council are extremely saddened that some of these young trees have been vandalised and stolen.

“The trees were planted for the whole town to enjoy for many years to come, but the selfish actions of a few have spoilt it for the rest of us.

“We are now looking at options to prevent further issues.”

Mr Cotter said there will be a meeting between BTC’s chief officer Phil Evans will have a meeting with CDC and their contractor next week to get to the bottom of why this situation has been allowed to come about.

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1

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