The damage in Canfield Gardens

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FOUR recently planted red-flowering trees have been axed by “brainless neanderthals” in a “heinous act”, residents say.

The Person ironwood “Vanessa”  trees in Canfield Gardens, close to the heavily-polluted Finchley Road, appeared before Christmas.

Camden’s Tree Planting strategy has put up hundreds of new trees on pavements in recent years.

Small buds had started to appear just before they were axed overnight last week.

Peter Symonds, a former chairman of Combined Residents’ Association of South Hampstead (CRASH), said: “The deliberate and mindless damage inflicted on four of the beautiful saplings recently planted by Camden at the top of Canfield Gardens has shocked and angered the entire neighbourhood.

“I fear our council’s financial restraints being what they are, they are more likely simply to leave us the dead stumps as a reminder of the wicked act of brainless neanderthals.”

The trees have been ruined

A Camden Council spokesperson said: “The council will plant new trees in these locations before the planting season ends in March, in line with our Camden-wide efforts to increase the number of street trees providing much-needed shade, greenery, and new wildlife habitat.

“Such vandalism is unacceptable. If anyone has details about who vandalised the trees, please report it to the council.”

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