Lockdown art project damaged in latest vandalism at Primrose Nature Area

Residents have said they are ‘absolutely floored’ by the latest incident of vandalism at Primrose Nature Area, where an art project created by residents during lockdown has been damaged. 

Connie the Covid Snake, a project initiated by a local woman during the Covid pandemic, has fallen victim to the vandalism. During the pandemic, residents painted designs on around 250 rocks, which were then arranged to form a snake within a frame. It was Installed as a permanent feature in the nature reserve to symbolize community solidarity during the surreal times of the pandemic. 

However, residents have recently reported that someone attempted to cut through the acrylic frame to steal a rock from the snake, in the latest spree of vandalism after four memorial trees were stolen from the area earlier this year. 

 “This is 100% deliberate and thought out, as the damage is deep. We can never ever repair that, it’s not a tree that we can easily replace,” explained a local resident, Vicki Peaston. 

Primrose Nature Area is located off Primrose Drive in East Melksham and is an area maintained by local residents as a natural meeting area for local people and dog walkers. It is also intended as a safe area for children to play and learn. 

However, residents have been expressing anger over the antisocial behaviour in the area, which has included ‘smouldering fires’, litter and graffiti.  

Vicki said, “I think this is the third or fourth incident of a fire in the area since we’ve been looking after the area and thankfully this last one was minor and we managed to sort it out without involving any authorities, but that is not the point, it could have been a whole lot worse. 

“We were advised that a group of kids were spotted in the same area, the day after we’d spent our very early morning putting it out, and it had been reignited. Thankfully a very kind local resident doused it with water and put it out, it’s not come back so hopefully we’ve ruined their so-called fun.” 

Vicki also said there is litter at the site, ranging from sweet packets, drinks bottles and drugs packets which have been left 100 yards from the bins residents purchased. She also said there is graffiti on the bins and a sign board which was installed by residents and funded by donations.  

“It’s very frustrating when we give up our free time to work down there and it is repaid by the next generation through vandalism and antisocial behaviour,” said Vicki.