A group of eagle-eyed volunteers is rallying to protect Dunedin's Town Belt from vandals, following the gratuitous felling of 13 native trees earlier this year.
Dunedin City Council parks officer Scott Maclean said a police investigation into the vandalism had hit "a bit of a brick wall", despite a strong public response following a report in the Otago Daily Times on March 25.
Mr Maclean received about 50 phone calls from members of the public following the report, about half of whom had information for police.
However, many "concerned residents" also called to let council staff know they would be keeping an eye on sections of the Town Belt near their properties.
They planned to investigate any suspicious activity, including the use of chainsaws and axes, he said.
"We have got a lot of people who have made a bit of a commitment to keep a bit of an eye on things around the Town Belt.
"I have had calls from people all over the show, really," Mr Maclean said.
Council staff were appalled by the scale of the Town Belt vandalism, which occurred in dense bush about 50m from any road or house.
Whoever was responsible had used a small axe or machete to fell 13 trees, including five that were 15m high, had half-metre girths and were more than 60 years old, Mr Maclean said.
The vandalism was believed to have occurred two to three weeks before being discovered.
The matter was referred to the police, along with information passed to the council by members of the public, but no culprit had been identified, Mr Maclean said.
"There were a few people interviewed by police, but their stories checked out," he said.
Since March, there had been several cases reported of people cutting down Town Belt trees for firewood, but no repeat of the large-scale vandalism, he said.
