“Thieving mongrels” have stolen trees from a much-loved community garden in Christchurch.

Two Jacarandas were removed from Rāwhiti Domain near the children’s play area over the weekend.

It follows the theft of several native plants and a disability swing from the park in March.

Guardians of Rāwhiti Domain Chairwoman Cathy Baker discovered the theft on Sunday afternoon.

“I was so shocked that I found it hard to breathe. I just thought here we go again. What’s the point of continuing to expand this project.”

“I was absolutely gutted. What I find so upsetting is that we have been trying to raise funds for security and also more disability activities.

Cathy spearheaded the project to incorporate a 1.7-hectare natural woodland play area, which includes a butterfly sanctuary.

Baker said the trees were over 3.5 metres tall so a small truck or trailer would have been used to remove them.

“We planted them last year in the Woodland picnic area and planned educational amphitheatre area.

“They were thriving in the woodland where it is sheltered and would have produced beautiful purple nectar flowers this year.

“We planted them because we want shade trees that grow fast and thrive in dry conditions.

Baker said “funding grants were drying up so it was getting harder and harder to raise money needed to make this a spectacular place for families.”

“I actually think people believe Guardians is a big organisation. Actually we are only 4 people and for 3.5 years of the time when we were building the playground there were only 2 of us volunteers – Greg Howells the International Landscape Architect and myself.

“We really need the Christchurch community to get behind us now for us to continue because people from all over the city use the Woodland Playground.”

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