Vandals destroy nursery orchard

STAFF at the Little Fir Tree Nursery in Melksham are heartbroken after vandals broke into the nursery grounds a couple of weeks ago and completely wrecked their orchard.

Jill Baxter, nursery manager said, “We have all tried so hard to sort this area out because it’s been overgrown for a while. We were so proud of what we had achieved. It is so disheartening to see it now.

“I don’t understand why anyone would want to destroy something so positive for the children and the community.

“The Thursday before it happened, we had a staff meeting out there and it was lovely. The sun was shining and we discussed what a lovely area it was to sit. The trees were coming into blossom. It is so upsetting to think someone has deliberately taken this away from the nursery.”

When asked about whether they will replant the trees Jill said, “I am not sure whether we will because who is to say they won’t come back and do it again? The police said they would do more patrols around the nursery in the evenings, but is that enough to deter  them?”

Sarah Clover, the director for children’s services for the YMCA who organised sponsorship to buy the trees commented, “We were very lucky to have 12 trees donated by local businesses and were able to create an orchard. The plan was to have a shady area and to grow fruit, which we could use in our kitchen and also for the children to be able to take the fruit home. The trees were large and healthy and we had some fruit last year. Most had branches snapped or cut off and five of the trees were flattened near the roots or trampled completely.”

The children who attend the nursery are also upset by the devastation. One little boy said, “We love our trees, but now they are broken.”

The staff at the nursery ask anyone living nearby to let the community police know if they saw anything or have heard anything, and to please also keep an eye out for the remaining trees.