Vandals deliberately chop down blossom tree in community garden run by Yorkshire refugee charity
Date of alert:
Wednesday, 1 June 2022
Crime Ref:
Force:
West Yorkshire Police
Volunteers at a Yorkshire charity that helps refugees and asylum seekers have spoken of their shock at an act of mindless vandalism.
A blossom tree in the community garden at the St Augustine's Centre in Halifax was deliberately felled with tools and a fence ripped down.
The charity, which was founded as a church playgroup in 1968 and now offers English classes and support for new arrivals to Calderdale, posted on Twitter: "Enough is enough. Today we discovered our beautiful blossom tree had been chopped down last night. No reason. Just mindless vandalism in a garden we maintain and leave open for local people to enjoy. It’s a green sanctuary in an urban area.
"Yes we have CCTV. Yes we have engaged the police, our MP, youth service, council, community wardens, local residents on several occasions. Each have tried to help in some way but the issue never seems to reach the point of resolution. The fencing was vandalised too.
