Council workmen cut the 3ft-long grass on the A412 verges at Maple Cross – and mowed down 70 small trees carefully planted by volunteers working for the Colne Valley Park earlier this year.

The area had been carefully weeded a few days before to show where the baby trees were.

Three Rivers Council has now agreed to replace the trees, marking them this time with stakes.

[From the Watford Observer of July 2, 1982]