Veterans devastated as D-Day memorial trees are destroyed at Port Solent

More than 50 veterans attended the planting of 75 trees last November to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Normandy Landings.

Now the site lies ruined, with nearby residents discovering more than half the saplings have been ripped up and their protective casings – marked ‘Commemorating D-Day 1944’ – smashed to pieces on Tuesday morning.

The vandalism comes after travellers in 30 caravans took over a Portsmouth City Council-owned field next to the memorial field, south of Port Solent, with residents reporting a spate of anti-social behaviour since their arrival.

One nearby resident, who asked not be named, told The News: ‘There were some youngsters riding around on a quad bike (on Monday) and they crossed through between the trees and into the field where the memorial trees are.

‘They drove straight through part of it and all over the edge of it.

‘I was appalled to see what they had done.’

Damage done to the memorial copse will be ‘devastating’ to those who took part in the tree planting, former Portsmouth Poppy Appeal organiser Louise Purcell told The News.The 53-year-old said: ‘It’s just devastating – I cannot believe anyone would do this.

‘There was about 50 veterans at the tree planting, and it was such a lovely day.

‘The veterans thought it would be there for their grandchildren and for generation after generation.

‘People will definitely want to put the trees back, but some of the veterans won’t be with us now.’

Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt, who was at the planting last year, promised to work with groups to salvage the site.

She said: ‘It’s terrible news.

‘There have been a lot of organisations who have worked to create the site, and I was there on the day planting the trees with the veterans.

‘It gets me so angry... it’s so utterly senseless.

‘What I would say to the veterans is – we will replant that copse if we can’t salvage the saplings.’

Addressing the vandals, she added: ‘If this is how you spend your time – ripping up other people’s hard work – it’s a pretty sad life.’

SEE ALSO: My Dog Sighs finishes new art mural for Hilsea Lido

More than 30 caravans broke through barriers at a Portsmouth City Council-owned field, south of Port Solent, on Sunday.

Since then, residents report quad bikes ripping up the field, human excrement left in nearby woods, and fireworks being used to destroy plant pots outside the Harvester restaurant.

A barrier at Port Solent was put up by the council following a traveller incursion on the field more than five years ago, according to another resident, but this has now been broken.

The resident, who asked not to be named, said: ‘Anyone who conducts themselves in this way is an absolute disgrace.

‘Most of the trees have been ripped up – it’s just wanton vandalism.

‘The whole area is being terrorised.’

Portsmouth City Council has provided skips and portable toilets to prevent anti-social behaviour, police said. The council is working to serve notices to remove the encampment.

Police are ‘engaging’ with the travellers, Hampshire Constabulary said.

A police statement added: ‘For the time being, police will be conducting regular patrols around the encampment and engaging with the travellers.

‘Skips and portable toilets are being provided by Portsmouth City Council to try to prevent any anti-social behaviour until the camp is moved on.’

A spokeswoman for Port Solent said: ‘We are aware of the unauthorised encampment on Portsmouth City Council land at Port Solent and continue to work with both the local authority and the police to manage the situation in the best interests of our tenants and residents.

‘Our priority is ensuring the presence of this group does not unduly impact our restaurants and retail outlets which have only recently begun trading again, following the easing of the Covid-19 lockdown.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

Thank you for reading this story.

The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on our advertisers and thus our revenues.

The News is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism.

You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news and information online.

Every subscription helps us continue providing trusted, local journalism and campaign on your behalf for our city.