Trees planted in Hillsborough Park, gifted by the Tramlines festival, have been destroyed in an act of ‘mindless vandalism’.

Eleven lime trees planted in the park have been defaced in the count down to the 2026 festival leaving the Hillsborough community frustrated and annoyed.

The trees were planted in 2024 to give back to the local community after the festival faced controversy over damage caused to the park from torrential rain back in 2023.

Timm Cleasby, Operations Manager of Tramlines Festival has said: “Obviously, we are hugely disappointed that this has happened to the trees.

“As a team, we take quite a lot of pride in what we do in the park and we try to look after it the best we can.”

The award winning Tramline festival began back in 2009, and has raised over £319,000 for charity since moving to Hillsborough Park in 2018.

In 2025, Tramlines festivals raised £58,000 in funding for local Sheffield communities through the Tramline trusts and other collaborations.

The tree avenue was funded by an allocated £5,000, dedicated to enhancing the parks greenery.

A statement released by the Sheffield Parks and Countryside said: “Repairing this damage costs time and money that could otherwise be spent planting and caring for more trees across the city.”

Approximately 40,000 to 50,000 people attended the festival last year, with wider city celebrations attracting over 150,000 visitors to the city during the summer.

Angry residents have taken to social media to express their disappointment in the recent vandalism with some claiming that the parkkeepers who once maintained the park should return and ensure that this doesn’t happen again.

Susan Wardle, a Hillsborough local, said: “Vandalising the new trees in Hillsborough Park is a mindless act, showing complete disregard for the community.”

A recent small community online vote has the community divided on whether or not the festival should take place in the park every year consecutively or take a gap year, to allow the park to be restored to its original state.

If you see damage or suspicious activity in a Sheffield park, contact Sheffield Parks and Countryside via phone or email or report the incident to the police.