Police called after councillor's plants poisoned

A local county councillor who has had her garden plants poisoned with weedkiller has contacted the police.

Otter Valley councillor Claire Wright contacted the police after having four plant specialists confirm that her Valerian plants have been sprayed with weedkiller.

Councillor Wright has involved the police as she believes the incident constitutes criminal damage.

She moved to the centre of Ottery St Mary four years ago and since then has been turning her small garden into a wildlife haven.

"I have been incredibly upset that the vast majority of my Valerian plants appear to have been sprayed with weedkiller, probably some time last week, and are in various stages of death," said councillor Wright.

"The wild sweet peas below the Valerian are dying, and so are the branches of the bushes behind the flowering plants.

"I have consulted four plant specialists and all confirm that poisoning is the most likely outcome."

Councillor Wright has often campaigned on environmental issues and her work on encouraging pollinators to use wildflower verges on local roads has been adopted as county council policy.

Claire said: "Valerian is very special to me because it attracts an abundance of pollinators.

"As you are probably aware, the levels of insects in this country and across the world are at a dangerous all time low. The State of Nature report describes the UK as one of the most nature depleted countries in the world, with many species of insects and birds on the at risk register, because of climate change, industrialisation and the overuse of pesticides.

"I have spent much of my time as a Devon County Councillor giving talks to schoolchildren and working to create wildflower highways verges."

Councillor Wright is careful not to use pesticides on her plants and encourages birds and insects to use her garden. She is concerned that the weedkiller used could also have poisoned insects landing on the plants afterwards, 'or even that those pollinators could have taken it back to their nest or hives'.

"The idea that someone has brought poison into my little wildlife garden is abhorrent," said the Ottery St Mary councillor.

"It has been one of life's little pleasures to pad out in my slippers with a cup of tea to gaze at the huge number of bees buzzing around the Valerian plants collecting nectar. Now they are mostly dead and smell of chemicals."

"I don't know who poisoned my flowers but if you have seen anything suspicious I would be grateful if you would let me know."

Claire has written an open letter to her neighbours to help find out who was behind the incident.

If you would like to contact Claire Wright about the incident her contact information can be found here.