Vandals trash council-run beauty spot

Vandals who trashed an Anglesey beauty spot have been slammed by local councillors after causing damage worth hundreds of pounds.
According to Anglesey Council, who manage the site, more than 50 yards of wooden fencing were torn down at Llangefni’s Dingle nature reserve.
Much of the boardwalk fencing ended up in the river Cefni, which runs through the 42-acre wooded valley which is rich in both wildlife and history.
Cllr Dylan Rees, one of the local members, described the act as “a tragedy”.
“In my view, this represents a serious offence of criminal damage and I hope that the offenders responsible are brought to account as soon as possible,” he said.
“The Dingle is a highly prized community resource treasured by locals and visitors alike, and it is a tragedy to see it damaged like this.
“It is supposed to be the season of goodwill. Unfortunately, these actions showed nothing but ill will towards our community.
“I would urge anyone who has any information about the culprits to contact North Wales Police immediately.”
Following the incident, which took place on the evening of December 18, Anglesey council’s countryside and AONB team and volunteers spent two days making a large area of the woodland safe and replacing the damaged section.
Warden Dylan Owen said: “We were so disappointed to see this damage at the Dingle.
“We spent two days, with the support of some of our fantastic volunteers, erecting temporary netting and then fixing the wooden fencing and making the Dingle safe again.
“Much of the missing fencing was removed from sections above the river itself, and we were fortunate that there were no accidents as a result.”
The boardwalk forms part of the enhancement to the site which took place over recent years, winding its way along Afon Cefni which allows access to three bridges, sculptures, sculpted benches and picnic tables.
Parts of the woodland are dominated by sessile oak, ash and wild cherry, with other parts mostly sycamore and the occasional ash tree with an abundance of ferns and mosses and woodland flowers.
The reserve is also known to house frogs and newts in the wetter areas, and adders and lizards in the drier woodland.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact North Wales Police on 101.

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter