Spate of vandalism at the UK’s first Young People’s Forest will not derail nature project

The Woodland Trust has said that vandalism at the UK’s first Young People’s Forest is proving a menace to conservation efforts.

Over the past few weeks, its Mead site in Derbyshire – where 250,000 new trees were planted mostly by young people – has had a new viewing platform and outdoor classroom damaged..

Whilst the community has rallied against the vandalism, which involved arson and general damage, the Woodland Trust has had to get the police involved.

Emily Moore, the Woodland Trust’s Youth Development Manager at the site said the damage will cost around £5000 to repair – money that would be better spent on the continued conservation efforts at the site.

She said: “Over the past few weeks it is such a shame we have seen a small minority of people vandalising the site. But we and our many young people and community involved in the project, won’t let it derail all the good work we are doing here.

“So much has been achieved at the site. It was just fields before, and young people have rolled their sleeves up and have helped turn a barren landscape into a new and thriving forest and led the way in creating an engaging place to visit. We are determined this will continue.” 

Emily said that they have reached out to the local community to provide answers to who the culprits are – and she will be installing CCTV at the site over the coming days.

The Young People’s Forest at Mead was planted on an extensive former open cast mining site near Heanor in Derbyshire. It has an incredible history with links to the National Coal Board, DH Lawrence, the renowned Miller-Mundy and Leche families, a Sheriff of Nottingham, through the Knight’s Fees of the Norman Conquest and even back to the Vikings!    

The thriving new woodland is scattered with biodiverse ponds, open spaces and species-rich grassland. Bordering Shipley Country Park, and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s Woodside farm, the three areas provide over 500 hectares of accessible landscape for local people to enjoy. 

More on the Young People’s Forest can be found here.