A PICNIC area near the canal, which has been created by The Bowerhill Residents Action Group (BRAG), was vandalised over the bank holiday weekend. The vandalism occurred on the evening of Friday 22nd May – just after year 5 children from Bowerhill Primary School had joined with volunteers to build a special ‘bug hotel’.
The vandals damaged the picnic area and littered it with their rubbish.
The chairman of BRAG Mike Mills, said “We are furious about the damage which we have now repaired as best as we can. We get so much backing from the Bowerhill community who have left messages of support on our Facebook page.
“It is so annoying to happen just days after we had worked with the Bowerhill schoolchildren on the bug hotel. They are a credit to the school and so different to the mindless hooligans who enjoy damaging things.
“The vandals pulled over the planted flower barrel, emptying the contents on the ground, then rolled it over to the grass area. All the plants were squashed on the ground, plus the stones inside the barrel were thrown all over the area and loads of their feast of biscuit wrappers all over the area.
“But the vandals will not win. BRAG is stronger than they are. We are a community group of golden oldies and have no funds of our own as we rely on the generosity of local residents, businesses and charities to fund our activities.”
Mike had been thrilled with what the volunteers and children had achieved with the space saying at the time it was built, “The hotel will provide shelter and a home for bugs, insects and small creatures.
“We are delighted that the schoolchildren helped us with this project. They visited the site to help complete the structure and to release butterflies that they have watched grow from caterpillars. The children really enjoyed their afternoon.”
Mike is asking local people to help with any information about the vandalism. He said, “Think back to where you were on that night and whether you saw any big groups near the area.”
The police have been informed, but if you have any information, please e-mail Mike on mike.mills@tiscali.co.uk
