OVERNIGHT last Monday, vandals destroyed two styrofoam propagation stations containing 72 valuable seedlings for the TreeProject Ovens Landcare Network.
Volunteers at the Kilmore Community Garden reported the damage to police after noticing the destruction on Tuesday morning.
A spokesperson said: “This is not caused by birds, or wildlife. It’s a nuisance member of the public. The casuarinas, also known as she-oaks, might not grow into shade and shelter desperately needed for wildlife, and to help cool the planet.”
“The grey parrot-pea, also known as an egg and bacon shrub, are drought/salt-tolerant species ideal for hedging, screening, or erosion control, and now they may not fully propagate either.”
The community garden is located in Union Street and volunteers invite community participation by means of more vigilance in the area until the seedlings are collected.
“We hope to see our chapter in the project finished over the coming months, so more vigilance is welcome,” a Kilmore Community Garden spokesperson said.