A COMMUNITY has been left 'heartbroken' after "substantial damage" was caused to a new forest school in Wrexham. 

Residents in Llwyneinion are disappointed after an area of the village green has been 'destroyed' after months of hard work.

Llwyneinion Woods was placed on a register of town and village greens by Wrexham Council in March. 

The application for the status was placed in 2020 and after a public inquiry, a report, and a council vote, it was eventually named as a village green. 

The 56 Wrexham councillors voted unanimously in September 2022 that Llwyneinion Woods should become a village green and form part of Wrexham's Open Spaces.

It was then formally opened in May 2023. Since then, work on restoring the woodland has taken place, and after securing lottery funding, contractors were on site earlier this week. 

Contractors from Ruthin have been on-site adding fencing to secure the site so that the local Primary school, Ysgol Maes y Mynydd could use the woodland as a Forest School. 

Following damage to the site on Thursday night (February 22), plans have had to be scaled back to address the broken fences.

One resident, who wished to remain anonymous said: "The community has worked so hard after the occupation and destruction of the land and trees.

"We worked tirelessly to make it a village green for the whole community to use and enjoy.

"It is shameful that anyone would want to cause such damage for no apparent reason. It is heartbreaking to see all the hard work destroyed in one night.'' 

Local resident, Gail Jones added: "National Lottery money was awarded, because the project goal was to secure, restore, and maintain Llwyneinion Woodland for the benefit of the local community, including a Forest School for the primary school children of Ysgol Maes y Mynydd.

"Funding put aside for plants and equipment for the Forest School will now be spent on materials and labour to repair the fence and replace the newly installed gate. Over 400 metres of fencing was vandalised."

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North Wales Police confirmed on Friday (February 23) that they had received reports of "substantial damage" and are appealing for information regarding the incident.

A North Wales Police spokesperson said: "NWP have had reports of damaged caused to Ysgol Maes Y Mynydd new forest school on Llwyneinion road, which occurred sometime between the evening of 22/2/24 and the morning of 23/02/24.

"Substantial damage has been caused to the fencing which has been erected to ensure the safety of the children while they attend the new forest school. If anyone was in the area or has any information please contact 101 quoting reference Q026005."