PLASTIC guards have been removed from some of the 3,300 trees planted across Wellington Basins in the past six months, prompting an appeal by the town council.

The council worked during the winter with the Woodland Trust and dozens of local volunteers to plant the trees in the 66 acres of land running from Fox’s Field, by Tonedale Mill, through to Rockwell Green and Hilly Head, to help create new areas of woodland for leisure and wildlife.

A council spokesperson said: “The trees are doing great, but somebody has been taking off the plastic guards and leaving them next to the trees.

“This is probably being done with the best of intentions, but it is important the guards remain on for now.

“The tree guards are needed to protect the trees from being eaten by rabbits and small mammals who like the young growth at the bottom of the stem.

“If allowed access to the trees they will nibble through and the trees will be lost.

“We have now erected a few signs in the area to let people know that the guards need to stay put for now.”

A thriving oak tree sapling, complete with protective plastic guard, planted in Wellington Basins during the winter. PHOTO: WTC.
A thriving oak tree sapling, complete with protective plastic guard, planted in Wellington Basins during the winter. PHOTO: WTC. ( )

The spokesperson said leaving the tree guards lying around on the ground was also not what the council wanted, as they could become a hazard to other wildlife and the environment, particularly if blown around by any wind.

They said: “The trees, while they look a little choked, will do absolutely fine with the tree guards.

“The tree guards often create a bit of warmth which also helps the trees to grow and speeds up their growth, like a mini greenhouse.

“We do not intend the trees to be in the guards for too long as we do not think we have a serious problem with deer, so the rabbits and mice are probably their biggest threat currently.

“We do know there are rabbits around, and as we create more grassland habitat with long grass we will increase the small mammal population and put the trees at increased threat from these creatures.

“They will happily eat the grass and other vegetation if they cannot get to the trees.”

The council thanked local resident Rosie Walker, who walks through the Basins regularly and has been replacing the guards in her own time while ‘keeping an eye on how all the trees are doing’.

The spokesperson said: “Thanks also to anybody who is replacing the odd cane and guard as they walk around, the trees need just a bit of help for now.

“Conservation is all about balancing priorities and conflicts between making the best of difficult scenarios, and using the tree guards was the best we could do in this situation.”

The council will hold some ‘free the trees’ days later when the saplings are ready, and the plastic guards will then be collected to ensure they do not cause any problems.

The spokesperson said: “There will be opportunities to get involved in the maintenance of these young trees, including replenishing mulch and eventually removing the plastic guards.”