Vandals hack and pour bleach on gran’s memorial tree

Police are investigating after vandals hacked and poured bleach on a grandmother’s memorial tree lower than 48 hours after it was planted.

Daniel Snow, 33, planted the magnolia kobus tree in Appledore, North Devon on Monday in reminiscence of his late grandma Jean Williams.

The 78-year-old died of most cancers in February 2020 and Snow and his kin organised for the tree to be positioned on the third anniversary of her dying.

Torridge District Council picked a spot for the monument however after they returned to test on it lower than two days later, somebody had poured bleach across the tree’s base and attacked its trunk and branches.

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Torridge District Council has reported the vandalism to Devon and Cornwall Police and officers are investigating.

Snow, from North London, mentioned: “It is a very upsetting scenario and we’re offended anybody would deem it okay to do one thing like this.

“The council have swapped the soil, bandaged the bark and used water to clean away the bleach – nevertheless it’s but to be seen whether or not the tree will survive.”

The chartered surveyor added: “The explanation we picked Appledore is as a result of we have been occurring vacation there as a household for 25 years.

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“We now have nice reminiscences with grandma there, and Torridge Council have been completely satisfied to allow us to plant the tree subsequent to the seaside.

“I’d simply emailed them to inform them how grateful we have been, and the way happy we have been with the tree, when somebody referred to as and mentioned it had been vandalised.”

Sean Kearney, head of communities and Torridge District Council, mentioned: “We’re disillusioned that this act of prison harm has occurred and have reported the matter to the native police for additional investigation.

“We’re not in a position to remark additional whereas the matter is appeared into.”