October 4, 2004.

Press Release
For Immediate Use
Police close in on Stretford street tree vandals

Red Rose Forest, Greater Manchester’s Community Forest, announced today that police in Trafford are closing in on vandals who caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage to a Stretford street tree project. The vandals destroyed a 4 metre high Rowan tree in Thomas Street between Nansen Street and Norway Street, sawing it in half, as well as causing considerable damage to the protective guards of four other street trees.

The attack is the second serious incident of street tree vandalism in Thomas Street this year but police now believe they have good information about the identity of the culprits.

The trees were planted in summer 2003 by pupils from Gorse Hill Primary School, as part of an event organised by Red Rose Forest. The children spent an afternoon with Red Rose Forest’s Green Streets Team planting trees, hundreds of bulbs and bedding plants to brighten up their borough in winter.

Gay Smith of the Gorse Hill Community Action Group, said:

”The group is saddened by this incident because everybody worked really hard to raise the money for this project. The scheme was part of the overall regeneration of the Gorse Hill area and has been extremely important in strengthening community links with local businesses.”

And PC Jason Galvin from Greater Manchester Police, said:

“We are treating this matter very seriously. This incident constitutes an act of criminal damage, and has been logged accordingly. This is not simply a case of random vandalism caused by youths snapping off branches but an example of deliberate destructive behaviour which would have taken a considerable and concerted effort by the vandals. We have a very good idea who the culprits are and anyone with information should contact PC Galvin at Altrincham police station on.”

Red Rose Forest’s Peter Stringer said:

“We are all upset by this incident but are delighted that the police are taking this act of vandalism so seriously. From the beginning of this street tree project, Red Rose Forest and Trafford MBC have worked hard to involve the community via Gorse Hill Community Group. Therefore, this attack is not just an attack on the trees themselves; it’s also an attack on the people of Gorse Hill who have worked so hard to make this scheme a reality.”

Red Rose Forest and the Gorse Hill Community Action Group worked together on securing funding for this scheme from a variety of sources including Millfield Estates, Transco, RAC, Greening Greater Manchester and Trafford MBC.

Red Rose Forest planted 310 street trees across Manchester and Trafford last year and secured a 94.6 per cent survival rate, making the loss in Stretford an isolated but important incident.

For more information please contact Peter Stringer or Chris Johnstone at Red Rose Forest on 0161 872 1660.

Notes to Editors:

Red Rose Forest

Red Rose Forest is Greater Manchester’s Community Forest. It is a partnership of the Countryside Agency, The Forestry Commission, United Utilities and six local authorities. Red Rose Forest is already transforming and regenerating a large part of Greater Manchester, with 25 million trees across 300 square miles being planted over 40 years.

Green Streets: The story so far…
The Green Streets team is part of Red Rose Forest and has been successfully delivering a substantial programme of street tree planting, together with a variety of other street greening projects in Manchester and Trafford over the last three years.

Green Streets’ aim is not simply to parachute in and made good an escape. Instead, we encourage residents to take an active role in every stage of the project from consultation and funding to delivery and aftercare. By engaging residents in as many aspects of the greening projects as possible we are not only encouraging communities to take ownership for the trees and plants, we are also helping to rebuild community spirit through greater social interaction and generating a renewed sense of pride in where people live.

Green Streets is also active right at the heart of Manchester City Centre. Working in partnership with the Manchester City Centre Management Company and Manchester City Council, Green Streets is planning a major street tree planting programme, the first phase of which will be delivered in the New Year.

The project was also recently extended to Salford where it is working in partnership with Salford City Council on the delivery of a large street greening programme. The first phase of the programme will commence after the New Year.

ENDS