MONEY which could have been spent on butterfly glades and planting bulbs is now having to be spent on cleaning up offensive graffiti which was sprayed in Widbrook Wood near Bradford on Avon last week.

Racial slurs and other offensive words have been plastered onto trees and stone slabs by the river in the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust area, causing upset within the town.

Dom Newton, leader of Bradford on Avon town council said: “I’m deeply saddened by the mindless nature of the vandalism and what it purports to represent.

“It defaces a beautiful part of our local area and reflecting on the themes of resilience and community coming together that I spoke about just a few weeks ago, it is the latest in a short but growing list of this type of graffiti.

“Mutual respect, for environment and each other, has to be at the heart of everything we do.”

The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust are now having to spend time and money on cleaning the Widbrook woodland area.

A spokesman from Wiltshire Wildlife Trust said: “We will divert staff time next week to Widbrook wood specifically to clean up the obscene graffiti.

"Hopefully we can use an ecological cleaner which is hot water and scrubbing brush to clear much of the graffiti, but where it has been sprayed onto trees will be difficult to remove without damaging the trees.

"This costs time and money, resources that could have been used to create wildflower and butterfly glades within the woods, or the planting of woodland bulbs or even simply keeping paths and access open for everyone to enjoy.

"If anyone wishes to leave their mark they are welcome to come and join one of our conservation sessions at these woods, or volunteer in other reserves nearby. Please if anyone sees a crime being committed dial 999 immediately”.

Offensive graffiti also appeared in Trowbridge town park in January which police investigated. Up to 20 pieces of graffiti were located on trees, walls and pathways throughout the park.

Chris Hogg, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust volunteer said: “There’s been a spate of graffiti in the area, particularly in Trowbridge and before on trees in Widbrook Wood which is very difficult to remove.

“It would be very helpful to report this to the police, with an idea of when it happened, or if not when you saw it. It means that hopefully the police could match graffiti with anyone found responsible.

“It’s very dispiriting, as we’d prefer to be spending time and expertise improving sites for nature,not cleaning graffiti."