Thief taking plants from Marple Memorial Park!

[Snowbridge]

We had a similar situation with public garden in our neighbourhood, new plants dissappearing overnight upon being freshly planted. It was not until we have printed some posters and hung them at the several location warning of camera-installations work going on , that the akward burglaries ceased. The plants in the park never seemed to be of such value, but apparently for some people they are worthy of the risk...I can just imagine the conversation - "I'm in here for a pinetree".  

[admin]

It maybe someone that does not know what they are doing, trying to be helpful tidying up “dead” plants.   Hostesses do look a mess at this time of year.

The Hostas were not taken this time of year. They were taken within a few days of being freshly planted in the summer.

The four shrubs were new, planted a few weeks ago, and starting to take well. They included a beautiful new Black Alder, a Sambuca and two small Broom bushes. These were good specimens and they were taken because somebody wanted them for their own garden, not because they thought they were doing us a favour and clearing up dead plants.

[ringi]

It maybe someone that does not know what they are doing, trying to be helpful tidying up “dead” plants.   Hostesses do look a mess at this time of year.

[Rudolph Hucker]

Are there no depths to which some people won't go?

Don't prosecute them though; you've got stocks (not sure if that should be capitalised?) in the park crying out for just such an occasion. I'll donate 100 eggs to the cause! Charge the public 50p per egg and you should get a few replacement plants.....

RH

[admin]

A thief has been taking plants and shrubs from Marple Memorial Park. They have been doing this for quite a few weeks and seem to be getting bolder. During our task day today we discovered that four shrubs have taken from the War Memorial beds. These were planted recently and were thriving - now they are gone - not a trace. Some of these were donated by members of the public. The others were purchased by Friends of the Park using money donated to us, or raised at local events.

This started with the removal of Hostas donated by the public that had been planted near to the library in the summer and a number of other plants have been removed from the ornamental beds too.

If you see anyone working in the flowerbeds who are not wearing the blue uniform of SSK please take a photo of them on your phone. If it's a volunteer from the Friends of the Park they will smile and talk to you. If they are stealing plants they probably won't!

This person, or persons, must be a gardener - why else would they want the plants or know what was worth taking? They must understand the considerable effort that has been put in by the Friends of the Park in the last two years to save the beds from grassing over and to maintain and improve them, yet they steal from us. It's despicable and if we can catch them at it we will try to ensure that they are prosecuted. Please spread the word and help us to catch them or frighten them into stopping.