A PUBLIC appeal has been issued by Fife Council to stop people stripping bark in Pittencrieff Park.

Nine lime trees are set to die in the Glen after an act of criminal damage was carried out close to Andrew Carnegie's statue.

Fife Council's parks area coordinator, Nigel Stevens, said: “The bark has been stripped in large, neat sections with none of it left behind so this doesn’t seem like an act of vandalism – rather that someone is removing it for some sort of use.

"Unfortunately though, the extent of the damage means that these trees probably won’t survive long term."

Nine of the 21 lime trees on Vartan's Way have had large sections removed from the trunks which, over time, is set to kill them off.

After a £1.6 million lottery-backed project to improve Pittencrieff Park, there is concern about the damage and the council is urging visitors to call the police if they spot anyone stripping bark.

Mr Stevens said: "The culprit may not realise the extent of their actions so we’re putting out a public appeal asking them to stop.

"A lot of investment has gone into the park in the last few years and the feedback we get about how great it’s looking from proud locals as well as new visitors is very encouraging.

"We’d hate to see further deterioration to these well-established lime trees in such an iconic part of Pittencrieff Park.”