‘Heartache’ as park carving vandalised

Blow for Braes development group after wooden sculpture destroyed

A Kirkcaldy community activist has described her heartache after vandals targeted a monument in a local park.

Lorraine Wilkinson, chairwoman of the Rabbit Braes Development Group, said that damage to a statue was disheartening for local volunteers.

The carving of three badgers has been largely destroyed, with the faces of two of the wooden creatures removed with what would appear to be a power tool or saw.

It is one of several wooden monuments scattered throughout the Braes that were installed with the help of local children and Mrs Wilkinson said such attacks are a blow for those trying to improve the area. “We’ve got a small committee – there’s only six of us – and so virtually everything that gets done is done by just six people,” she said. “We give up our own time, but what does make it worthwhile is when the community wants to get involved.

“They do support us but it seems as though there is the odd person that just doesn’t like people having a nice place to walk.”

The vandalism is thought to have occurred between February 9 and 14, with police now investigating the act.

The animal sculptures, a popular attraction on Rabbit Braes, were only installed a few years ago, with local school children helping to design the animals as part of a £6,000 project.

Thanks to work done by the group, the area has become a focal point for family life in the north-west of Kirkcaldy, with Halloween Spooky Walks and family fun days also hosted at the park.

Picture: Steven Brown. The sculpture is one of several on Rabbit Braes installed with the help of local children.