Local news

kazalala · Post by **kazalala** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 5:17 am

This was in our local paper last night. Its such a shame some kids are not taught just how beautiful and amzing nature can be:-1 I used to live near this park when i was little, and remember going there to feed the ducks and cath sticklebacks. I remember the tree and always loved seeing it:mad: You have to click on the pic to get a better view.

A majestic 80ft monkey puzzle tree has been reduced to cinders after vandals struck at Sunderland's Barnes Park.

Upset residents contacted the Echo after they discovered the charred remains of what was "the most beautiful tree in the park" – now just a trunk and a few spindly branches.

One neighbour said: "It looks like someone has set fire to it which is such a shame as it must have been a couple of hundred years old.

"It was such a beautiful tree and I can't believe someone would want to vandalise it like that. Everyone is disgusted.

"It's going to be a big miss in the park. It was huge, you couldn't miss it. It was a prime example of a monkey puzzle tree."

A spokeswoman for Tyne and Wear Rescue Service said that a call was received at about 6.45pm on Bonfire Night.

Peter High, head of Environmental Services at Sunderland Council, said: "It is extremely sad that the monkey puzzle tree was severely damaged by fire in what seems to be an act of wanton vandalism. We have had to take down what was left as a safety measure.

"We believe the tree was one of the original trees planted when the Barnes Park was first established in 1910.

"Unfortunately, as it was a very mature tree we can't simply replace it and return everything to the way it was.

kazalala · Post by **kazalala** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 5:22 am

Here is another picture of what it should look like.

mikeinie · Post by **mikeinie** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 11:28 am

I know what you mean, it is sick and I don't get it. Not that long ago here in a new housing development, someone went along the main road and split all the young trees in half, breaking most of them.

Some people are born to build

Some people are born to appreciate

and some people are born to destroy.

Don't let the bad guys win!!!

kazalala · Post by **kazalala** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 10:01 am

Thanks you two, i know there are a lot worse things going on in the world today of course, but it just made me a little sad cos i remember marvelling at it as a child.

SlipStream · Post by **SlipStream** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 10:17 am

it makes me sick what stupid people do.

kazalala · Post by **kazalala** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 10:19 am

SlipStream;717871 wrote: it makes me sick what stupid people do.

yip.. and theres many of them about as well:rolleyes:

SlipStream · Post by **SlipStream** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 10:23 am

tell mi bout it!

kazalala · Post by **kazalala** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 10:26 am

SlipStream;717877 wrote: tell mi bout it!

I'd rather not:wah: cos then i will get angry,, and i dont feel like being angry:D

SlipStream · Post by **SlipStream** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 10:43 am

kazalala;717880 wrote: I'd rather not:wah: cos then i will get angry,, and i dont feel like being angry:D

indee Kaz.

watermark · Post by **watermark** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 10:32 pm

I cried inside when I read this :-1

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 8:12 am

SlipStream;717871 wrote: it makes me sick what stupid people do.

Not all stupid people burn trees down ya know !

kazalala · Post by **kazalala** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 8:13 am

Nomad;718348 wrote: Not all stupid people burn trees down ya know !

:wah:maybe not, but all people who burn down trees are stupid:rolleyes::p

Kathy Ellen · Post by **Kathy Ellen** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 8:23 am

I can never understand why people cause such destruction Kaz........and why they pollute so much. It's the same destruction and pollution here. Everyday when I walk along the beach and boardwalk there are millions of cigarette butts and garbage. You drive behind someone and you have to shut your window because all they do is throw stuff out their window.

That tree was beautiful and they should replant another tree in the same place. Perhaps better surveillance would help the area.....although I know that's impossible. The town posts a $10000 fine if anyone walks along the sand dunes, and people walk on it quite often.

kazalala · Post by **kazalala** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 8:40 am

i know and how easy is it to put something in the bin. i smoke, but i take a small sweetie tin in my bag to put butts in, in case there is nowehere to dispose of them.