Vandals have hindered the fight against serious tree disease Phytophthora ramorum by damaging machinery being used by Forestry Commission Wales and its contractors.
The machinery was being used to fell trees infected by ramorum disease in Afan Forest near Port Talbot.
Two harvesting machines were damaged in two separate attacks and, as a result of the vandalism, Forestry Commission Wales has increased the number of patrols made by its security guards to harvesting sites in the area.
Ramorum disease was first identified in Japanese larch trees in Wales last year when 876ha of these trees were found to be infected.
Initial surveys this year indicate that this fatal tree disease has infected a further 227ha of Japanese larch trees in Wales.
“We are working very hard to minimise the impact of this disease and it is frustrating to have our efforts hindered by the recent vandalism inflicted on harvesting machinery,” said Peter Cloke, deputy forest district manager, Forestry Commission Wales.
