Reading Borough Council has apologised to community volunteers after accidentally digging up hundreds of newly planted saplings.

Donated by the Woodland Trust, the 800 saplings were planted in Palmer Park in Reading between 2016 and 2017.

During a recent routine clearance by the local authority’s maintenance team, the young trees were pulled up and destroyed.

‘Unfortunately these saplings were cleared in a recent routine clearance of undergrowth by our maintenance team,’ a spokesperson for the council said.

‘Regrettably, the whips were untagged and not clearly visible amongst nettles and brambles when the area was being maintained.

‘The council respects and values the work of volunteers and we apologise to the community volunteers involved in the planting of the saplings for this unfortunate occurrence.’

The spokesperson said the council was planning ‘to put the situation right’ by planting a selection of larger trees in the park.