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Harrogate's Nidd Gorge Jubilee Wood destroyed in mower bungle | Harrogate's Nidd Gorge Jubilee Wood destroyed in mower bungle |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A wood created for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee has been accidently mowed down by a council workman. | A wood created for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee has been accidently mowed down by a council workman. |
The 2,000 saplings planted in December 2012 in Nidd Gorge, near Harrogate, recreated an ancient woodland. | |
Keith Wilkinson, chairman of the Bilton Conservation Group which planted the trees, said the workman had "turned left instead of right". | Keith Wilkinson, chairman of the Bilton Conservation Group which planted the trees, said the workman had "turned left instead of right". |
Harrogate Borough Council apologised for the error and said it would help with replanting the area. | Harrogate Borough Council apologised for the error and said it would help with replanting the area. |
Bilton Fields had been planted over 1.25 acres as part of a UK-wide project to plant six million trees native to Britain. | Bilton Fields had been planted over 1.25 acres as part of a UK-wide project to plant six million trees native to Britain. |
It had taken 40 volunteers about 200 hours in total and Mr Wilkinson said just two oak saplings had survived the mowing. | It had taken 40 volunteers about 200 hours in total and Mr Wilkinson said just two oak saplings had survived the mowing. |
'Sleepless night' | 'Sleepless night' |
The saplings were at grass level and were not protected by stakes or tree tubes because in the past this has attracted vandalism. | The saplings were at grass level and were not protected by stakes or tree tubes because in the past this has attracted vandalism. |
Mr Wilkinson said: "It was an unfortunate accident, we will have lost a year. | Mr Wilkinson said: "It was an unfortunate accident, we will have lost a year. |
"I imagine the driver will have had a sleepless night, I feel sorry for him. He just turned left instead of right." | "I imagine the driver will have had a sleepless night, I feel sorry for him. He just turned left instead of right." |
He added he would be volunteering to help the council replant the area later this year and the area would still be called Diamond Jubilee Wood. | He added he would be volunteering to help the council replant the area later this year and the area would still be called Diamond Jubilee Wood. |
A Harrogate Borough Council statement said: "The new tree planting had not been clearly identified resulting in the contractor unwittingly mowing across the saplings. | A Harrogate Borough Council statement said: "The new tree planting had not been clearly identified resulting in the contractor unwittingly mowing across the saplings. |
"The council manages this field as a meadow and mows it in this way to maintain the public amenity of the site and also to enhance the biodiversity of the species-rich meadow." | "The council manages this field as a meadow and mows it in this way to maintain the public amenity of the site and also to enhance the biodiversity of the species-rich meadow." |
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