Employees at an Edinburgh nursery were left devastated after a gang of mindless vandals trashed their outdoor garden.
Smilechildcare, on Calder Grove, Wester Hailes, hit out after their community children's nursery gardens were subjected to vandalism at the weekend, with vital and expensive equipment damaged.
The nursery uploaded various images to social media showing the damage, along with a message asking local parents to keep an eye on their children, as neighbours have informed them it is a gang of youths causing the damage.
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On Monday, March 21, the nursery posted on Facebook saying: "Unfortunately we have come in this morning to our big garden being vandalised again, mainly targeting our outdoor shelter. The the last few weeks our shelter has been damaged slightly, our outdoor sinks have had their pipes kicked away from them and other resources destroyed.
"We have worked hard as a team to ensure that previous damage does not impact the provision for the children. Today, once again, we have worked hard to clear away the damage created and ensure our garden is safe for your children to play and learn in."
Adding to the fury, Senior Practitioner at the nursery, Dawn Moorehead, said that neighbours informed them that a group of youths were using golf clubs to smash the garden up during the evening.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live , Dawn said: "We're a voluntary organisation and it's not the first time this has happened. There's been lots of vandalism over the past few weeks but this time, they have even used golf clubs to smash our main garden shelter.
"They have been climbing over the fence and damaging pretty much everything. The outdoor sinks that we specifically brought in due to Covid, so kids could wash their hands more regularly, have been damaged, along with planters emptied and thrown around, equipment broken and glass being smashed.
"Thankfully some neighbours tried to stop the group of kids on Sunday evening and they ran off. If it wasn't for them, it could have been a lot worse."
Dawn and the rest of the team are distraught after working so hard to provide young children with a safe space to play and learn, with the main garden being used for several activities such as story time, eating lunch outside and general playing outside whilst the weather is favourable.
After lockdown, the nursery tried so hard to encourage more outdoor playing and learning, meaning this fresh setback is even more exhausting and disappointing.
Luckily, the nursery has been able to stay open and use their other garden for the time being, blocking off the vandalised area so kids can't access it and see the initial destruction.
Dawn added: "Our next option is to dip into our own money and try to rebuild again. I have no idea what the cost of damage will currently be as there's so much. The outdoor shelter and sinks were quite expensive.
"We are planning on making the fence stronger and also making the outdoor shelter more protected. Luckily parents have been in touch and have helped out, we just want to say a huge thank you for the community for coming together at a time like this.
"It's devastating and infuriating that a small group of people think it's okay to spoil what we're trying to create, a safe provision and space for young children."
Police Scotland posted a tweet relating to the issue yesterday, March 21, saying: "Outdoor play equipment at Smile Childcare Nursery in Calder Grove was vandalised yesterday evening meaning the kids that go there can't use the space. We are following a line of enquiry. If you know anything, please call 101. Inc 2893 20/03/22 refers."
