Calls for more respect for nature after tree set on fire in Sudbury

A blaze which scorched a large tree in Sudbury earlier this month has prompted claims that people are not treating natural spaces in the local area with respect.

The fire was deliberately ignited under a white willow tree standing on green space near the bridge to Lady’s Island, some time between the night of Wednesday, May 9, and the morning of Thursday, May 10.

The fire service was called and managed to put out the flames in time to save the tree, although significant portions were blackened and badly charred.

Adrian Walters, clerk and ranger for the Sudbury Common Lands Charity, told the Free Press that this type of incident on local green spaces was nothing new, with numerous similar cases over the years.

“In the past few years, we had a large willow burned at the Salmon Leap on the Sudbury Common Lands, which later fell across the river,” Mr Walters said.

“At Easter two years ago, an ash tree was set on fire on the Valley Trail. This is now dead.

“Having been in the post for 28 years, I have seen it all before.

“The volunteer team do a great job acting as eyes and ears and the public also help, but these kinds of incidents, and very many others, are inevitable when there is a large human population adjacent to the riverside.

“Come the longer and warmer summer evenings and out they come – nothing new there.”

Sudbury tree warden Jill Fisher, who is also the founder of the People’s Park Preservation Association, described the latest incident as “heartbreaking”.

“The mindset of some people in Sudbury is just getting worse,” she said.

“It must have taken ages to light it. It’s just disgusting what some people are doing today.”