{"id":79415,"date":"2026-04-27T17:00:03","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T16:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sheffieldwire.co.uk\/?p=79415"},"modified":"2026-04-27T17:45:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T16:45:01","slug":"as-spring-builds-up-hillsborough-park-trees-are-ripped-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sheffieldwire.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/04\/27\/as-spring-builds-up-hillsborough-park-trees-are-ripped-down\/","title":{"rendered":"As spring builds up, Hillsborough Park trees are ripped down"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Several newly planted trees in Hillsborough Park, Sheffield, were vandalised last week leaving pathways lined with rows of “beautiful trees” broken into short, jagged stumps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One of several two year-old saplings left snapped at their base.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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First planted by volunteers in November 2024 in partnership with Tramlines Festival, they said in a statement the destroyed trees were planted to “provide benefits for people and wildlife long into the future”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a sentiment likely shared by many in the community, Timm Cleasby, Operations Manager of the annual Hillsborough Park festival, when speaking with ITV, said he was “hugely disappointed” in the damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added: “You know, as a team, we take quite a lot of pride in what we do with the park and we try and look after it the best we can.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, work has begun between Tramlines and Sheffield Parks and Countryside Service to work on replacing or repairing the young trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visiting shortly after the vandalism occurred, Sheffield Wire spoke with Hillsborough locals and Sheffield’s weekend visitors to report on their views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Stuart, 74, has always lived by the park and feels it is no longer safe to visit at night.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Stuart, 74, a lifelong Hillsborough resident, said: “They’ve done away with [park wardens] now, all you’ve got now is gardeners and they’re not going to tackle these kids – I wouldn’t.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It’s not safe at night, I’m 74 years old I was brought up round here, I will not come in here after 6 o’clock. I’ve never known it like this, never.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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James, from Heeley, Sheffield, believes more police patrols would combat anti-social behaviour.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

James, from Heeley, Sheffield, said: “[It would help] if you had police patrolling the park in an evening when anti-social behaviour goes on, because I once-upon-a-time sat and drank in this park, I didn’t destroy the park though.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jeff and Rosemary Holmes, from Stannington, Sheffield, while always enjoying the park, think this vandalism is “a shame”.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jeff Holmes, from Stannington, Sheffield, said: “[Park] wardens would be a good idea to try and reduce the vandalism. It’s just a shame as these would’ve been beautiful trees in years to come.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kayleigh, from Infirmary Road, Sheffield, highlights the responsibility of parents against anti-social behaviour.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kayleigh, from Infirmary Road, Sheffield, said: “It is down to the parents, if the parents taught them in the right way then they wouldn’t behave in that way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It’s also the kids themselves as well; I’m sure they know better.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Elsewhere in Sheffield, anti-social behaviour has been targeted with roadblocks hindering what residents called the congregation of loud cars and drug deals on South Street in Park Hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With future plans to change the area into a social “pocket park”, if some of Sheffield’s largest and most loved are not being protected, it leaves many questions to the effectiveness of this plan remaining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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