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Bedfordshire fairy garden vandalised for second time

Bromham Parish Council Vandalised fairy gardenBromham Parish Council
The fairy garden was vandalised for a second time at the end of November

A community that rallied round and raised £800 to repair a vandalised fairy garden has been left "gutted" after it was damaged again last week.

The trail at Bromham Mill, near Bedford, was smashed in August, but with the help of a local police officer funds were raised to restore it.

After the latest attack PC Sam Sparkes said "we will not be beaten".

So far £750 has been collected to pay for CCTV cameras on the site which they hope will be a deterrent.

Bromham Parish Council Fairy bridgeBromham Parish Council
After the August vandalism, volunteers have built a brand new fairy bridge for toddlers to stroll across
Bromham Parish Council Repaired and damaged playhouseBromham Parish Council
The playhouse was damaged in August and it has been restored in time for Christmas

The trail, on land owned by Bedford Borough Council, is looked after by Bromham Parish Council and the Bromham Conservation Volunteers.

Julie Betts, parish clerk, said: "It is really disappointing. Whoever did it kicked the fairy doors off the trees and threw things about.

"We are just gutted, it is looked after by the community's grandparents. If the people who did this knew this, I do not think they would smash it up."

Bromham Parish Council Damaged fairy doorsBromham Parish Council
Ten newly-built fairy houses were "destroyed", the parish council said

She said after the first amount of money was raised, the funds were spent on repairs, building new attractions such as The Knights of Bromham, new resin doors, planting and creating a fairy bridge.

Because of the latest damage she said "we don't know what to do for the best - to put it [the bridge] out, or leave it for the time being".

"The community has really rallied to improve what was there, it just shows how everyone appreciates what we have," she said.

She said they were now working out where the best place to install the cameras was.

Bromham Parish Council The fairy gardenBromham Parish Council
The "resilient" community helped pay for new attractions including a fairy seat (left) and the Knights of Bromham (right)

PC Sparkes said: "Every time they damage, we will come back stronger.

"We hope the CCTV will act as a deterrent and stop them in their tracks, or they would be prosecuted."

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