The family of Millie Wright have been left shocked and devastated after a tree planted in her memory was destroyed by vandals.
Millie died in August 2021 aged 13 after suffering from an auto-immune health condition which led to a series of illnesses including liver failure.
Her family planted a tree in her memory on 7 May last year, which would have been her 14th birthday. But overnight it has been “completely destroyed”.
“We got a knock on the door this morning from a neighbour who said we’ve got some news for you, you want to come down to the Green,” Millie’s dad Nigel told YorkMix.
“And at the Green, we found that the tree hasn’t just been snapped, it’s been completely destroyed and scattered all across the Green.
“The tree has been broken off at the stem. And it’s also been completely shredded. So every branch has been taken apart.
“The supporting pole that held the tree has been thrown like a dagger across the Green.
“It’s just completely destroyed. There’s no chance of the tree recovering from this.”
The tree was clearly marked as a memorial, and the plaque is still there. And the Poppleton community knew its significance – so the perpetrators must have known the tree’s importance.
Nigel said: “Who would do this? Who would destroy a memorial tree to a 13-year-old girl, someone who had a short life, someone who lost their life?
“Someone’s just come along with no regard for that at all.”
He said the whole family was devastated.
“We’re absolutely shocked and stunned that anybody should want to do this to a memorial tree for a 13-year-old girl.
“And somebody who had many friends in the village.
“I’m just hoping that somebody’s conscience pricks them, and that they will come and talk to us and let us know who did this.”
Millie, who went to All Saint’s School, was known as a “courageous and inspirational” girl who loved to laugh. Her family set up The Millie Wright Children’s Charity in her memory, to support children with life threatening conditions.
Upper Poppleton nursery D-Tail Plants helped the family source Millie’s tree. It was the same age as her, and the family hoped they would see it grow, giving them a place to sit and remember Millie for years to come.
Nigel said: “It’s more than a tree to us. It’s our memory. It’s our place to come to remember Millie.
“It’s not just how it’s made our family feel. It’s how it’s made the community feel.
“I’m standing here this morning with a dozen people. Everybody who was going past is stopping, looking.
“The tree was a feature on the Green and was starting to really flourish and become a big part of people’s memories of Millie.
“I’m in disbelief as to why anybody would do this.
“I hope someone somewhere will also think, ‘what happened last night – I really ought to go and do something to make it right. And come and talk to us about it.”
Millie’s mother Ceri added: “Until you have lost a child or sibling you cannot begin to understand the impact of this mindless act. The village green has CCTV coverage so we are hopeful that we will be able to find out who did this.”
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “This morning we received a report of damage to a memorial tree on The Green in Upper Poppleton overnight.
“This callous act of vandalism will understandably have caused considerable upset, and we are urging anyone with information about what has happened to contact us.
“Please call North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference number NYP-21062023-0104.”
[tptn_list limit=3 daily=1 hour_range=1]