Return our trees, please
Molly, Rosa, Rueben and Sam are optimistic the thief will return their plants.
Twice in the past month, the children at Wilton Playcentre have arrived to find fruit-bearing trees and plants missing from their garden.
“In the first burglary, a ripe lemonade tree and an apple tree that were stolen were in a heavy washing machine inner planter, so it was no easy task,” says Jess O’Brien, one of the mothers that runs the playcentre.
A few weeks after the first burglary the tree-thief struck again, this time clearing a large tyre-garden of its strawberries, stakes, ties and all.
Playcentre mum Odette Abernathy discovered the latest missing plants.
“I’d like it [the thief] to be someone who didn’t have a lot, but I don’t think someone without a lot would steal from children,” she says.
“If you’ve taken them we’d really appreciate them back, no questions asked. At this time we can’t afford to replace them. It’s just so disheartening. You don’t really think someone’s going to come and steal your apple tree or dig up your strawberries.”
The children are holding out hope, however, with this comment: “Somebody stole our strawberries but they will be back tomorrow,” she said.
Odette’s daughter Millie suggested they bring in some of their own strawberries from home.
Police have been contacted.
The plants were purchased with a Ministry of Health HEHA (healthy eating – healthy action) grant.
Capital Times suggests that anyone with an extra fruit plant or tree head to Wilton Playcentre, 3a Gloucester Street, Wilton. It’d make their day.
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