HEARTBREAK AS SCHOOL GARDEN TRASHED

Pupils looks to community for support

Heartbroken children have had to replant their school garden after mindless vandals broke in and trashed it for a second time.

The hard work of youngsters at Deans Primary School in Livingston went to waste when they found that their outdoor learning space had been destroyed.

Teachers said the pupils were “very upset” when they realised that around 30 trees they had planted had been ripped up and their bug hotel destroyed on March 25.

Undeterred, the youngsters got back into their

garden before the Easter break to replant it yet again.

Teacher Susan Dobbie said she hopes that by sharing the story, members of the community will support what the school is trying to do.

She said: “We are trying to create a suitable and exciting outdoor learning space within the school grounds.

“Unfortunately, we are being hampered by vandals who destroy our newly-planted trees, take apart out new willow shelter and continually damage our bug hotel and newly-erected structure that will be part of our area of biodiversity.

“On the last occasion some of the nursery items were also destroyed.”

She continued: “The children are very upset. It actually happened last year as well.

“We got trees from the Woodland Trust and planted around 200 in the school grounds. By this year we had 30 left.

“We are still in the process of planting this year’s trees and this is the second time they have been destroyed. The bug hotel is continually destroyed.

“The children and staff of the school would like to ask the community to support our endeavours.”