‘Saboteur’ targets Fife forest school after kit and signs go missing

Children’s holiday camps and parties disrupted as gates padlocked and courses vandalised

A Fife forest school claims it is being targeted by a mystery“saboteur ”.

MIY Adventure, which is based at woodland near Braefoot Bay, by Aberdour, has had signs removed and equipment stolen in recent weeks.

Natalie Brown, who runs the initiative, said whoever is responsible went too far when they padlocked the gate at the entrance to the site.

She said :“The fence there gets obstructed and gets tied up. Most recently it got pad locked and we had a lot of children at the camp.

“This has gone further than just vandalism. We were hosting children at our camp and this is the only emergency access tothewoods.

“Luckily nothing happened and no emergency vehicles had to get to the camp .”

She said blocking access to the site could have had serious consequences, because of its proximity to the Braefoot Terminal owned by Shell.

“It’s also an emergency road for vehicles if the Shell plant goes on fire,” she said.

Natalie said signs put up to direct people to the site, which hosts children’s holiday camps and parties as well as team building days and stag and hen events, had been routinely taken down.

“We had our signs taken down three times in one day,” she said.

“We have to bring replacement signs with us. We’ve stopped using proper ones.

“We had our large canopy removed. I think they realised it’s the most important part of our camp because we need it if it rains. It’s also our most expensive piece of kit.

“The children painted rocks so people can find the camp and they have been taken away.”

Natalie said it is believed the culprit is a dog walker who has used the area for a long time.

She added courses used by mountain bikers had also been vandalised.

“We believe they are doing it when the kids are at school and we believe it’s a dog walker, or possibly someone who feels territorial about the area.

“We don’t think this person realises the extent of what they are doing. What they are doing to the mountain bikers is more dangerous because they are causing the potential for accidents.”

We don’t think this person realises the extent of what they are doing. NATALIE BROWN

MIY Adventure claim they are being sabotaged, after signs were taken down and their access route was padlocked. The camp site has also had its expensive canopy material removed.