VANDALS have killed a tree in the St Mary’s neighbourhood, just three months after it was planted.

The silver birch tree planted on Egerton Street in St Mary’s, Oldham was found poisoned by neighbourhood services from the housing association First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO).

The neighbourhood team assessed the damage and concluded that the tree would not recover from the attack.

In a stark warning to the vandals the FCHO team wrote on the association’s website: “We’ll take action if we find evidence of who carried out the malicious attack.”

It is the second time a tree has been deliberately harmed in the location. In 2017, the team discovered that the roots of a large ash tree had also been poisoned and killed.

The former tree was planted in March this year as part of FCHO’s annual tree planting programme.

The Oldham housing association has invested £10,000 to plant 40 trees across the borough in the green spaces it owns.

FCHO is aiming to “enhance the appearance” of communities and deliver “important environmental benefits” through the scheme.

David Wrigley, head of neighbourhood care said: “We know that many of our customers value the trees in their area and will be appalled by this vandalism, not to mention the environmental cost to the local area caused by the loss of the tree. We are planning to replace the damaged tree and we’ll be monitoring it closely.”

To find out more about FCHO tree care and management visit the FCHO website.