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Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has said its spent around £120,000 over the last three years repairing vandalised walls and fences.

The Welsh Government body manages around 9,000 hectares of land in south east Wales alone, and has claimed its seen a “significant increase” in antisocial behaviour, which has led to more vandalism.

Officers have reported that St James Woodland, near Tredegar, is one example of a recent spike in incidents’, including the theft of a kissing gate.

NRW is stressing to the public that deliberately cutting or damaging fences in forests is illegal, and can pose a serious risk to peoples safety, the environment and local wildlife.

Jo-Anne Anstey, land management officer for NRW, said: “Unfortunately, over the last few months we’ve seen a sharp increase in the number of boundary fences in our woodlands that have been deliberately cut or damaged.

“We maintain approximately 400 miles of fences in our woodlands across south east Wales, which is essential in helping us keep visitors to our forests safe, as well as protecting newly planted trees from being damaged.

“It’s really disheartening when you see deliberate damage being caused. Replacing fences is time consuming and costly – resources which could be far better spent being reinvested in to our forests and woodlands.

“We’re urging people to help us keep our forests and woodlands safe for everyone – if you see anyone damaging fencing on land we manage, call the police on 101 with the date time, location, and description of the damage.”