Vandals wreck Stratford community hub garden
A CHARITY’S much-loved sensory garden has been wrecked after what’s been described as a “wilful act of vandalism”.
The incident happened in the courtyard at Stratford Town Trust’s Foundation House in Masons Road at around 3pm on Bank Holiday Monday (18th April).
A member of the public raised the alarm after spotting black smoke coming from the back of the building and firefighters from nearby Stratford fire station were called into action.
Town trust chief executive Sara Aspley said the fire damaged a solar-powered water feature, garden furniture, timber decking and hanging baskets.
There are also scorched and burnt trees at the front and side of the community hub building.
But Sara says the biggest loss are two sections of a garden wall mural that have been destroyed in the fire.
The painted panels were commissioned as part of a project led by regional artist Katie O and included winning designs from a community art competition.
It was installed as a colourful backdrop for the new community garden, which was opened less than a year ago.
The sensory garden is used by several local groups, including those dealing with mental health issues.
Sara Aspley said: “It’s just heart-breaking. It’s a lifeline for so many people.”
The sensory garden was funded by a grant from the National Lottery’s Community and Covid recovery fund and donations including from youngsters on the National Citizen Service programme, who went on a sponsored walk to raise money for plants and flowers.
Foundation House was closed for most of the past two years, due to Covid but reopened in January this year.
CCTV footage from Monday afternoon has been shared with police, who arrived on the scene just after 4pm.
Sara pledged the charity’s supporters will “work hard to clean up the garden” but in the meantime, it will have to remain closed.
She added: “This looks like a wilful act of vandalism.”
Warwickshire Police are appealing for anyone with information to call 101, quoting incident 207 of 18th April.
