Mum heartbroken after memorial tree in Bishopdown for her baby daughter is attacked by vandals
The tree was planted in memory of Evelyn Rogers
Last updated 23rd Jun 2023
The vandalism of a memorial tree in Bishopdown for a baby who died of SIDS has left the mother heartbroken.
Kitty Rogers lost her daughter Evelyn in 2015 and planted the Evelyn Crab Apple tree a few years later, only for it to now have been heart-breakingly sawn off.
She told us that she was left distraught of the news that the tree had been cut down:
“I was put on suicide watch for the first couple of days, I went completely back into shock all over again.
“The thought that someone would do this on her anniversary (16th June), the thought that someone would even cut down a harmless tree in the first place was all completely shocking.”
Now an appeal for witnesses is being made by Kitty and the Police.
Kitty told us it had taken her “years” to reach the point where she felt ready to plant the tree, admitting to feeling guilty following her daughters passing.
“I’ve done years of therapy, I really struggled accepting that with SIDS they’re so healthy and happy, and that they’ll just fall asleep and not wake up.”
But once the decision to plant the tree had been made, a “beautiful” ceremony was held, where the Evelyn Crab Apple tree was planted. Kitty told us she wanted something living to return to:
“It was supposed to be a final moving on for me. It’s got the most gorgeous, big pink blossoms and it grows crab apples you can make pies and jams out of.”
And Kitty was informed of the awful news by friends: “We’d been planting wildflowers around the tree, around the 14th and her anniversary was on the 16th.
I was busy that day so one of my friends went to visit the tree on my behalf and they’re the one who found it sawn in half.”
The remains of the tree have been returned to Kitty for replanting in her garden.
Police and Kitty are asking anyone with camera footage or have seen suspicious activity to contact 101 and quote reference number 54230063482.
You can find out more about SIDS here.