A tree planted to mark the opening of Bradford Urban Garden has been damaged.

The fruit tree was planted last summer when the temporary green space – a £300,000 project, between Westfield, Bradford Council and Yorkshire Forward – was officially opened.

The urban garden was built to make use of the mothballed Westfield site and is being developed as an outdoor venue for projects led by Bradford arts development agency, Fabric.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Peter Hill, planted the tree at a ceremony in July, 2010.

But less than a year later, branches have been ripped from it and thrown on to a plaque unveiled at the ceremony.

The tree stands near a Field of Hope where 20,000 daffodil bulbs were planted earlier this month, supporting Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Fabric director Gideon Seymour said: “It’s a shame that the fruit tree planted by the Lord Mayor to mark the Bradford Urban Garden opening has been damaged, but we are determined not to let it damage our enthusiasm for the space.”

The Bradford Community Celebration of Mayday is on Sunday, May 1, from 11am to 7pm.

The garden will be trimmed with decorations for the event, which features acts performing on two stages and a bandstand, a bar, food, arts, crafts and community stalls, street performers, a Maypole, a large-scale board game, absurdist arts and installations and a children’s zone.

Anyone wishing to organise an event may call Dusty Rhodes on 07850 686002.