Fury and sadness after community garden is trashed

Yobs carried out a wrecking spree in the community garden, leaving the volunteer group which runs the spot with a massive clear-up job.

Pom-poms created to celebrate NHS staff and key workers' efforts during the coronavirus crisis were torn down from the trees and kicked around, with tree branches also being ripped off.

Litter including food boxes, bottles and cans was left strewn all round the space and books from the little library were taken out and thrown around the garden.

Flower beds were trampled and miniature fences to protect young plants knocked over.

Stone flags in a partly-built sensory garden were also scratched.

A spokesperson for the Friends of the Cherries Community Garden said: "We are lost for words and so disappointed that all the efforts of the local community to create a beautiful garden have been so disrespected.

"Pom-poms that have been lovingly made to show the community's respect for the NHS and key workers have been destroyed.

"This is wrong on so many different levels and cannot be allowed to happen ever again."

Volunteers from the Friends' group were working in the community garden to pick up the pieces following the vandalism on Sunday night and were expected to be at the site doing more repair work on Monday.

The group said it would be informing Wigan Council and the police of the incident.

Coun Lol Hunt, who represents Wigan Central ward in the chamber, has condemned the vandalism and urged anyone with information to contact the police.

He said: “I am shocked and appalled at such senseless destruction of what was a beautiful community garden.

“This is not a case of anti-social behaviour, it’s criminal damage to a community asset and must not be allowed to occur again.

There has been literally thousands of people hours of work put in by members of the community to make this a outstanding recreation garden, only for it to be trashed in a couple of hours."