Louts have targeted a popular Lockerbie nature reserve with a prolonged campaign of “depressing” vandalism.
An estimated £1,000 worth of damage has been caused at the Eskrigg site in the last six weeks with commemorative plaques, memorial poles and bird feeders smashed and strewn around the place.
Reserve manager Jim Rae said: “It’s very disappointing. Most local people are very good and appreciate the facility but to have two or three that spoil the area for everybody’s enjoyment it’s very disheartening. It’s quite depressing.”
Between April 18 and May 28 signs have been vandalised and locks have been damaged which has a negative impact on access for disabled visitors.
Mr Rae added: “We’ve had quite a lot of vandalism over the last six weeks or so.
“I think it’s just a couple of lads that bike down about 6pm and create havoc.
“They’ve destroyed a few things. They’ve taken down bird feeders and chucked them in the pond and I’ve found some of them but not others.
“They’ve chucked posts in ditches and some of them are dedication posts to people who have died, some recently, and they’ve pulled them out and chucked one up on a shelter roof. It’s these sorts of things that are ongoing.”
An information board was also destroyed which will cost about £380 to replace and a toilet key guard has been damaged which means disabled people can’t access the toilet after hours without Jim coming on site.
The retired teacher added: “It’s frustrating because sometimes I spend all my time sorting out vandalism and I can’t get on with my normal work.
“It’s disappointing for visitors as they see all the disruption. It’s just nonsense, it really is.
“The locals are very good that way, they let me know when something happens and I’ll try and sort it as soon as possible.
“It’s become a game for those responsible. They do things they hope I won’t notice and see how long it goes on for. For example they destroyed the toilet key guard. One of them phoned me up and asked for access to the toilet.
“I told them the toilet door was open and they said it wasn’t so I came down to open it and I think it was only done to draw my attention to the fact the key guard wasn’t working.”
The police say information can be passed in confidence to them by calling PC John Cowan on 101.
He added: “The damage has been estimated to run to around £1,000. The reserve is maintained by the volunteers from Lockerbie Wildlife Trust who work tirelessly to maintain this well-loved and visited part of the community.”
