The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Volunteer fixes planters after third attack in a week
A volunteer has spoken out after he fixed colourful planters in a Peterborough park after vandals struck for the third time in a week.
Simon Cohen arrived at Central Park in Peterborough last Tuesday morning (April 2) to find six planters had been upturned, with soil and plants strewn over the paths.
The planters had only been installed the week before by Up The Garden Bath, with schools and charities working to help make the park look a more colourful place.
Mr Cohen, a volunteer, said: “There are seven raised beds here, beds with bathtubs built in and six of the seven were turned over, with soil emptied out and all the flowers being buried.
“One planter was stacked on top of another one.
“I straightened up the planters first of all, I shovelled the soil back in, put the plants in, then I swept up, and I’ve watered.
“It has happened for three days. I was expecting it.
“I had a plan – I thought it would happen. I just thought I had to get on with it.”
Dave Poulton, from Up The Garden Bath, was full of praise for Simon’s efforts and said he would not let the vandals win.
The project has special meaning for Up The Garden Bath as it was its first scheme that was self-funded.
The money came from
the Unity Shop in Queensgate Shopping Centre which, along with raising funds for the cause, celebrates small, independent businesses in Peterborough. He said: “I did warn people this could happen but we were not allowed to anchor the planters to the ground. We will replant them, find a solution, and we will go again. We cannot let these people win.
“The response to having the planters put in the park has been amazing – so many people have contacted us to say the planters had really lifted the park. I can’t put into words how amazing people like Simon are who have come and supported us.”
A Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson said: “We received reports of criminal damage to Central Park in Peterborough, namely vandalism to planted tubs, believed to have taken place between 8pm on 29 March and 11.45pm the following day. Anyone with any information is urged to contact police via web chat or by calling 101, quoting 35/22363/24.”