Years of work destroyed as vandals demolish sculpture in Hamsterley Forest

FORESTRY officials have been left “devastated” after a bespoke wooden sculpture was sawn off and stolen from a children’s trail.

A sculpted wooden bird was severed from its pole on Hamsterley Forest Play Trail by thieves last Tuesday night into Wednesday morning (August 2).

It is the second feature of its kind to be taken from the forest in the past year.

Alex MacLennan, the Forestry Commission’s recreation and public affairs manager for the North East, could not understand why anyone would take the sculptures.

He said: “It’s pretty devastating – it took planning permission and years of work as well as people paying for their parking.

“The families were really enjoying it – there is just no logic to it and they have gone to some considerable physical effort.”

Another victim on the Viking-themed trail was the “Gruffalo’s Child” who lost an ear but he has been fixed since.

Unfortunately, the way the bird sculpture has been lopped from its perch means it cannot be replaced without starting from scratch – a project which would cost thousand of pounds.

Consultations are ongoing between residents and the Forestry Commission for the installation of ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras on entry to the forest.

Mr MacLennan added: “Part of that has always been about security and this underscores why we are bringing it in.

“It gives us notice as we don’t get many vehicles coming in overnight.”

It is a peak time at the forest with children off school.

Crime is uncommon at the forest but break-ins are not unknown.

Wood’n Wheels bike shop, in Redford, was raided earlier this year causing £3,000 worth of damage.

Mr MacLennan said such instances were sporadic and believed an opportunist had eyed up the wooden sculpture during the daytime.

He added: “To be frank it’s not the sort of thing I would want in my garden – I’m not sure what they’re going to do with it. It’s strange.

“The bird was part of the enjoyment of the trail – it may not seem like much to adults but for children it was part of the adventure and the memories they take away with them.

“Maybe we need to ask local businesses to produce some of them.”

The theft was met with an outpouring of outrage and sympathy on social media with dozens of people taking to the Hamsterley Forest Facebook page.

“Selfish and self-centred,” wrote Tricia Snaith.

“Ridiculous – why would anyone think it was fine to destroy something like that?” added Sue Beadle.

Officials have assured would-be visitors the trail remains open with the final £40,000 phase of the play trail development due to be completed this winter.

If you have any information which could help the investigation, call police on 101 and ask for the Bishop Auckland station.