[Community_garden] Vandals trash community garden in Leeds - UK

[Don Boekelheide]

Yorkshire Evening Post
Leeds, UK
06 February 2007

Community garden is devastated - Leeds residents
shocked as vandals strike

BY ALISON BELLAMY 

IT was created as a community garden and a place for
peace and quiet for the people of Beeston and Hunslet.


Today residents and day centre users from south Leeds
were left devastated after discovering benches trashed
and broken and pot plants overturned in a vandalism
spree on the only piece of green land in the
neighbourhood. 

Users of the community garden outside the Mariner's
Resource Centre, at Hunslet Hall Road, were today
assesssing the damage and feared a £350 bill to
replace three sturdy wooden benches. 

David Littlewood, of the Access Committee for Leeds,
which meets at the day centre and helped to create the
garden two years ago after a six-year battle to secure
funding, said: "It is just devastating. This garden is
for the whole community, so people of all ages can
come and enjoy the facilities we have. 

"Three benches have been trashed and broken. 

It must have taken some effort by whoever is
responsible. 

"We suspect it is local youths, but cannot finger the
blame on any invdividuals unless anyone comes forward.


Struggle

"We have told the police and hope that someone will
come forward with information."

He said they felt for youngsters, who had little to
do, but the day centre had already opened its doors to
young people by holding a youth club for youngsters
from the LS11 area each Thursday night. 

The damage was discovered on Friday morning, but it
was not thought that teenagers at the youth club were
responsible. Mr Littlewood added: "It may be some
youngsters who were not attending the youth club and
for whatever reason they felt the need to trash the
place."

The garden opened in April 2005 after a six-year
struggle to create a fully accessible green space for
all ages in inner-city Leeds. 

More than 200 people attended the official opening of
the garden, which was funded by Leeds City Council
Social Services which gave a grant of £10,000,
Groundwork Leeds, which carried out the work, Green
Leeds, Single Regeneration Budget 4 and South Leeds
Health For All. 

Users are now hoping they can find the cash to replace
the damage. 
Police are investigating anyone with information if
urged to Contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 

alison.bellamy at ypn.co.uk

photocaption: VANDALS STRIKE: David Littlewood,
chairman of Access Committee for Leeds with Linda
Watson and Roger Cordingley by one of the vandailised benches