Turf war as thieves escape with part of city meadow

Derby is at the centre of a turf war after thieves twice stole part of a city meadow. The volunteer group that runs Mickleover Meadows has described the crooks as "mean and selfish". And police are appealing for witnesses who may have seen people transporting large quantities of grass at the time of the thefts.

The nature reserve is run by volunteers from the Friends of Mickleover Meadows. The group's chairman, Sean Andrews, said: "The grass has been taken out neatly by a turf-cutter, leaving a gap about the same size as half a tennis court. It's shocking, it's bizarre and it's mean. A lot of hard work goes into maintaining the meadows and someone has done this for their own selfish gain."



Mr Andrews said the thieves struck first on Tuesday or Wednesday night last week and again on Saturday night. They took 20 square metres and then another 10. He said it was not clear why the thieves had targeted the meadow. "They might be laying their lawn but it's not very good quality grass."

A police spokeswoman said both thefts were reported on Sunday afternoon. She said: "We believe it was taken using a turf-cutter. We would like to hear from anyone who saw people transporting a large quantity of grass – perhaps in a wheel-barrow – on the nights in question."