Spalding nature reserve's trees felled by BMX riders disgusts volunteers

Volunteers are hoping mindless vandals will stop felling trees on a nature reserve to make a BMX track.

The people who look after Vernatt's Nature Reserve in Spalding were horrified to find a 15ft Walnut tree had been taken down along with countless branches in order to make a track around the site.

Volunteer Pete Boekestyn said a saw was found on the nature reserve and that youths on bikes had been spotted on the reserve.

Mr Boekestyn and the other volunteers have worked hard to make Vernatt's a pleasant place for the community but it has been blighted with drug use, sexual activity and a man was even photographed defecating at the site.

He said of the latest problems: "I am disgusted. No-one has the right to take trees down.

"They have ruined at least four trees and the stumps are probably 6in thick. My friend was gutted about the 15 ft walnut tree.

"It took me all of my strength to pull the walnut tree from the rubbish where they had left it. They have also cut a number of branches to make a track along with digging holes and putting a ramp up.

"A nature reserve is no place for BMXing."

Mr Boekestyn also said volunteers had to fill in a large hole which had been dug and could have been a hazard to walkers.

Further problems include four sponsored bird boxes being taken off the trees and later found in the river.

Drug paraphernalia was also found four to five weeks ago on the site which had to be cleaned up by Mr Boekestyn.

However, some successes have been seen in the fact that people are now using the litter bins which has reduce rubbish on the site and the sexual behaviour has also been moved on.

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