Pre-school remains undaunted by vandals and opens eco garden

Thoughtless vandals almost sabotaged the opening of an eco garden for young children but thanks to the efforts of parents the event went ahead as planned.

Rougham Acorns and Woodlands Eco Garden has been created to enable young children to learn about growing and caring for living creatures.

But the latest in a series of criminal acts in Rougham saw the fishpond destroyed, greenhouse windows broken, and wind chimes and the solar panel for the pond’s filter smashed.

Sonia Thurlow, chairman of the pre-school that her daughter Sophia attends, had worked hard alongside Sarah Lord to create the garden but on Saturday June 28 between 1pm and 1.30pm the vandals struck.

This follows damage to a shed at the village cricket club the previous night when equipment was scattered around on the ground after it was broken into. Thieves have also stolen safety netting at the play area.

Months of work had been put into the eco garden.

Sara Lord created artistic features including herbs planted in wellies, a mural, and giant naughts and crosses

Mrs Thurlow said: “That weekend we had gone away and a friend had gone to water the plants for me. I think she must have disturbed them because the hose was running so I think they planned to flood the place and a lot more damage could have been done

“I had to reset the the windows and we lost our goldfish which we have now replaced.

“The children are growing potatoes, courgettes, sweetcorn, strawberries and tomatoes. We had a thrush which successfully hatched two broods and we are havinhg a bat box for the school. It’s been really successful.

“We were one week to go before the opening so it was a challenge. I had put up the greenhouse so had to do the repairs. I didn’t expect to have to to the repairs as well as get ready for the opening.

Hopefully this generation of children will appreciate these things.”

The garden provides a wide range of sensory experiences for the children and on Friday Cllr Sara Mildmay-White, and Cllr Terry Clements from St Edmundsbury Borough Council who have supported the project were there to see it open. Cllr Mildmay-White, said this would be discussed at parish council level and asked local people to be vigilent.“We need to nip this in the bud,”