PLANTS and a tree have been stolen from a community garden less than two weeks after they were planted. Youngsters from the Jackmans estate in Letchworth GC helped plant 200 shrubs as part of a project to develop wasteland in Kyrkeby. Last week The Comet

PLANTS and a tree have been stolen from a community garden less than two weeks after they were planted.

Youngsters from the Jackmans estate in Letchworth GC helped plant 200 shrubs as part of a project to develop wasteland in Kyrkeby.

Last week The Comet reported on how, overnight, 17 lavender plants were stolen, and this week a further 83 plants and one tree have been taken.

Richard Harman, chairman of the Jackmans Improvement Group (JIG), which is heading the project, said: "It's pretty upsetting and a lot of residents are really disturbed by it. It's devastating and the children are upset. Everyone on the estate is pretty gutted."

The project to develop the Jack Wilkinson Memorial Garden - named after the founder of the JIG - has cost £17,000 and was funded through grants from North Hertfordshire District Council, Letchworth Garden City Council, North Hertfordshire Homes and Waste Recycling Environmental Limited (WREN).

Mr Harman explained that there is no money left to replace the plants, but added: "We are hopefully going to go ahead with the opening in May. We may have to shuffle the bark around a bit, but we don't want this to stop us."

Creating the community garden has involved clearing the site, developing pathways and paved areas, laying turf and planting trees and shrubs.