First sheep, fuel, roofing and copper, now trees!

The Montgomeryshire countryside is being targeted by a new type of thief, with the green fingered variety joining the light fingered before them.

 

Our local rural communities have been targeted in recent years by sheep rustlers as well as thieves pinching lead from roofs, copper piping and fuel; not to mention the spate of all terrain vehicles that have been taken.

 

But the latest crime wave has hit right at the heart of the countryside with trees disappearing in their thousands!

 

This week’s raid on a forest near Meifod has put the police and the Forestry Commission Wales on high alert after they revealed the extent of the problem.

 

A police spokesperson said: “We are investigating the theft of a large number of saplings that have been stolen from Forestry Commission land in Meifod. The saplings were ready for planting but were removed in their delivery bags. The trees include red cedar, oak and birch.”

 

And the Forestry Commission (FC) confirmed that this is a growing trend with thousands disappearing across Mid Wales and as far down as Llandovery.

 

Neil Muir, of FC Wales, said: “In the past, there have been isolated cases where a few bags have been taken, but this year several thousand have gone missing. It means more trees have to be sourced, at additional cost, which is frustrating.”

 

The thefts are interrupting efforts to plant more than three million trees in Wales in an attempt to make woods more resilient to the effects of climate change.

 

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or call independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.