What police found in protected woodland has divided opinion

Vandals or 'budding Bear Grylls' debate after discovery

- By OWEN HUGHES

POLICE sparked a debate after posting what was found in a protected woodland. Officers from North Wales Police said they had been made aware of a den set up in a forest in Flintshire.

They posted a number of images from the site - including a fire pit, a tent shelter and chairs, damaged trees, as well as a basketball net. The reason they had been called is that this is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) with a formal conservation designation.

Police described the scene as 'vandalism' and asked parents on Facebook 'Do you know where your children are when they go out to play?'

But the responses from the public were mainly supportive of the 'budding Bear Grylls. Others said they couldn't see the 'vandalism' there and said young people needed outdoor spaces to play in.

The original post from the police said: "On Monday 19th May, we were made aware of vandalism having taken place at the Lower Common in Buckley where a children's den has been set up in the woodland of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).