Allotments 4 All
General => The Shed => Topic started by: busy_lizzie on June 12, 2004, 22:08:45
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Just got back from our Plot - had gone up to water, and horror of horrors we had been vandalised. Isn't it the most horrible feeling! It was just so mindless - they pulled up my cabbages, ripped up my fleece polytunnel to my carrot bed and stomped all over it, you can see the footprints. They tipped a whellbarrow load of top soil onto my spinach seedlings, burying then, and at the top where my salad bed is they ripped up my lettuces and tore them up and scattered them all over the place. I could have cried (being a girly). :'(
Went up the other aisles where some other lottie holders were and they too had had damage done and tools scattered. One man found a fork and rake in the middle of his flattened onion bed. Seems to have happend sometime last night. Have rung the Community Policeman, whose is on annual leave but left a message, and our Chairman, but I know there is only limited things that can be done. I know we have all been there but it is all so sickening. The chairman reckons it is youngsters who get drunk or drugged and just go on the rampage. Didn't have the heart to do any clearing up tonight, will have to make a fresh start tomorrow and I suppose it could have been worse. :( busy_lizzie
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Oh no BL, I WOULD Have cried! Sorry to hear all your hard work has been destroyed, I just hope the peeps that do this kind of thing have a plot themselves one day and have it done to them! >:(
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If there was anything one could say, we would say it. Empathy is all we have to offer.
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@#*&^%~£$£!!!!!!!
Wish I could get my hands on the little s.ds!!! >:(
Wonder how they would feel if one of us came along and damaged something near to their hearts. :(
I'm sooooo sorry BL to hear about your lottie. Like DP I would have cried but probably in sheer anger!!!!!
I hope when you go back tomorrow there's something you can salvage.
Lots of love, Eileen.
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Hi Busy-Lizzie - I know just how gutted you feel. Not much else I can say, really - except "don't let the *fatherless children* win!".
I'm guessing - there's quite a lot untouched? And some of the damage salvageable? I surely hope so.
And I hope this is a one-off. Do you know how they got in? Is there anything you can do to prevent a reoccurence?
All very best wishes, and get up there tomorrow! - Gavin
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BL you must be devistated :'( What a mindless act, I bet those kids haven't done a days hard work in their life so don't appreciate your loss.
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So its happened again - seems to be neverending. I'm so sorry (but more angry) to hear what has happened, I always think how ashamed I'd be if I was the mother of one of them - what makes them do such things, can't be just peer pressure. Sounds selfish but the more I read of such things the more I keep my figners crossed it won't happen on our site.
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Poor Bizzy lizzy, I am so sorry that the hard work, blood, sweat and tears that must have gone into your allotment has been ruined. I just dont know how people can pick themselves up and start again. You must be devestated. I cant imagine how you can keep your hands from there throats.
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Just sending you huge hugs bizzy and strength to fight back >:( You know how we all feel. Take care :D
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Hi BL SO VERY SORRY about your lottie :(.
What makes the morans do it i would like to know they need a bloody good hiding >:(.
I hope you can salvedge something, cyber hugs to you .
Rosebud xx.
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Am so sorry to hear your news Lizzy.... must be gut wrenching,, al that hard work..... words fail me they really do as I think about your veg which done nothing to anyone being brutalised like that... thoughts are with you and your plot...
Oz
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oh no! what an awful thing to happen.
if you need a hand sorting out the mess, just say and we'll be over, got 1/2 a tray of mixed salad seedlings you can have if that's any help
keep smiling
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I am so touched by all your messages - Thank you all so much! :-* I have been up there today and once it was all cleared up doesn't look so bad. Had an Police officer there this morning who was very nice and seemed genuinely concerned about the vandalism problem.
The main area for concern near our Site is an old disused Basket Ball Court next to the High School. Although there is a huge perimeter fence around the School, the Court which also belongs to the school is open and in a terrible state. It is in a dangerous condition with Metal posts and Wire fencing littered all over the pitch. There are also many bushes and overgrown weeds and litter surrounding it. In the evenings and weekends groups of young people gather and lots of underage drinking goes on and drug taking. They used to ask us for water all the time and I wondered why they wanted it, until a police officer told me it was to use with drugs.
We don't know if a massive binge went on last Friday because of exams being finished now, as the place is covered in bottles and cans. Unfortunately my allotment is the nearest to the fence and gate. The Police are always moving people on from there,and we have tried various approaches to get the area cleaned up, but the School say they haven't the money and the Local Authority always say it is the Schools Land. We have written letters to all concerned but nothing ever gets done, it is so maddening. Writing another letter to the school after this.
Thank you for letting me "let off steam" - I know, as Eric says you can all empathize and know exactly the sort of heartache you go through in a situation like this. Unfortunately it is a place we have all been to, as I have read on here many times. Thank you so much for your offer Jo - Just really lost my allorosso (sorry about the spelling) lettuces think my others will survive, very much appreciate the thought. :) busy_lizzie
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Only just seen this - glad, or I would have had bad dreams.
I could send you chard, cabbage & purple sprouting seedlings?? Just gave away all my spare lettuce. = Tim
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Oh Busy_Lizzie, words fail me! So sorry for you :'(. I worry about the sort of people these kids are going to grow up into....what are they going to do....what are they going to be.....
Be strong, get up there and fight for your plants. Don't let the little sh***s beat you. Sending you heaps of good wishes from me and Ava.
Emma
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with my fundraising head on, is there anything that the kids could be persuaded to fundraise for to put there? do they have a working basketball court? have you thought of maybe asking the chronicle or news guardian to put something in which may make the local authority or someone feel guilty enough (you know, kids need more exercise, here's a wasted opportunity sort of thing?) to hand over some cash....?
its a good school as well, you'd think they'd be more bothered about keeping the local population happy.
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:'( :'( BL my thoughts are with you......keep smiling, please ;)
Les
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BL - so sorry for you. I almost cried reading your message. I know how I'd feel if it were mine.
I hope the damage isn't as bad as it first appeared and things recover soon.
big cyber hugs.
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lizzie,
surely the school have a responsibility to do something. If someone trips up on a loose paving slab on my drive, I am legally responsible for their injuries....surely if 'someone' tripped over on the basketball court, there would be a similar liability? Have you tried getting your local newspaper interested in the story? And wrote to your MP?
Failing that, tip the wink to a local farmer who can tip some manure on it! The kids may act like pigs, but probably draw the line at rolling in filth!
best of luck
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Just trying to think how many of our members this has happened to this Summer alone.Quite a number.The children have so much more than we ever had so why are they like this?We were happy to play hop-Scotch and Kick -Can of a night and then were too exhausted to vandalise.Oh no we were not goody goodies but knew what we would get if we misbehaved.Who says good old discipline doesn't work.??????
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BB - watch out I'm a bit of an amateur psychologist - this is one of my pet topics.
I think the reason why so many kids now resort to vandalism, drugs, etc is because they have so much. Modern childhood toys and games all totally discourage the use of the imagination. And the kids have so many toys they never have to think for themselves what to do next.
So as they start to become adults and toys are put away, they have no idea how to entertain themselves. This boredom leads to frustration which naturally leads to violence. Vandalism and graffitti also mean the kids can make their mark and have some influence on the world (which is another thing they feel is lacking).
The answer? give them allotments of their own. Teach them how to plan, be creative, nuture, take care of another living thing etc!
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Why do we keep trying to be nice to these kids. When I found out that one of my daughter's so-called friends was responsible for three acts of vandalism on my car (he wanted the stereo system and tapes for his own car) I went round his at night and super glued the locks on his car. Might not be the behaviour you expect from a responsible adult, but I felt better and he found out what it was like to be at the receiving end.
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Yes Aqui and it's one of my pet topics as well.Good old fashioned discipline and respect should be taught in the home.
As well as the schools then the kids would learn to respect themselves as well as others.
There's nothing stopping them having a Garden Plot or learning how to Paint and Paper a house is there?Buy them a pet Rabbit if you want them to learn how to look after something. Get them to make a hutch instead of going out to buy one.
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i love the manure idea! that's great!
and well done you granny smith.
apparently we aren't supposed to call them yobs because that encourages them to be yobs but what words are you supposed to use for kids that vandalise lotties and kill swans and all the other shocking things they've been up to round here lately?
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I'm glad you've managed to clear away the damage BL, I am not looking forward to the first time this happens to me :(
I once heard a proverb that helps me a lot when things go wrong - when you get something new, remember that it's already broken - ie. enjoy it while you have it because you never know when it will go, as it inevitably will.
But unlike a precious vase being broken or a prized possession being pinched, at least with the lottie you can start again and soon it will all look as productive as ever!
Ten x
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Know the feeling when I got to my allotment this morning I did sit and cry. Despite having security gates on the allotment vandals got in last night. They have pulled up and destroyed every seedling I had in and worse still they set fire to my caravan. All that is left now is a frame. My mum and husband who are both disabled help on my allotment. The caravan was used for them to sit and rest when they'd done enough. I also used it for the kids to make drinks in ect. I am now moving to a different site as I just haven't got the heart to do anything with this allotment anymore
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oh no, that's so awful, i just can't understand why people find enjoyment in destroyinng stuff that other people care about.
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This sort of thing makes my blood boil.
Useless morons destroying the fruits of peoples honest labour in seconds for no purpose whatsoever.
its a shame security cameras nees electricity, then again its a shame we have to contemplate it just to protect cabbages.
I can see why people would want to give up, it will always be in the back of your mind that it will happen again.
Agreed re the bored kids bit. If its not interactive, they turn off....making us all into morons...the powers that be
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Miss B that is horrible. No words left to say how I feel about it all.
When we talk of the kids we sometimes blame the parents but then my generation probably brought up these parents! There just isn't a respect for other people in society nowadays let alone their property - everything seems to be disposable - possessions... relationships....
Oh dear, I'm not normally a moaning old biddie but all this wanton vandalism is really choking.
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Just a thought, Busy-Lizzie - if that ground next to your site is being used by kids taking drugs, you might want to take particular care that there are no needles and the like lying around?
We had 3 or 4 on the old site. I'd never have dreamt about it until my son found the first - thank God he was more clued up than me, and didn't touch it.
All best - Gavin
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Miss Baritone - I'm desperately sorry to hear your plot has been hit too. Not much else I can say!
All very best wishes - Gavin
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Miss B and BL - horrified - and so sorry for you both.
BL - The school has a health and safety issue it needs to deal with rapidly that may need pointing out to them - one of those "children" gets hurt (aahh, poor wee things!) and the school would soon know about it.
Do either of you have a new councillor post-election who may want to get stuck in and give some support - after all healthy eating and exercise are very trendy subjects at the moment - or an old one grateful to have kept his/her seat?
Take photos if you can bear it before you start repairs, and talk to your local newspaper - BL - get the school named in the paper if at all possible - and piccies of the dangerous area. Amazing what a bit of negative publicity will do!
BL Is your local bobby Kevin Dakin - if so he is an absolute star - and you can tell him I said so!!
Whatever both of you do - do not let the buggers win - move if you have to, but please keep on growing.
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Oh no MissBaritone, I couldn't believe it! >:( I don't know what to say! It sickens me, and as a mum, bothers me what kids get up to! I detest vanadlism in all of its aspects, from littering to damaging and destroying other peoples property and we are bringing up our kids to have repsect, for themselves, and others. Good luck finding another plot, don't let them win, don't let them stop you doing what you enjoy!
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Thanks everyone.We are starting to get over the shock now. Although I have had to reassure my 3 year old neighbour that the police have put the bad boys in jail. I have now found another plot. Not far from my old one but it has a decent size fence and gate. It is a little more secluded than my old plot but as vandals would have to trek through a lot of old derlict allotments I'm hoping there won't be as much trouble. Speaking to my new neighbours they've said that they do get the odd vandal there but they've never had any trouble with arson unlike my previous plot. The only thing is now I've got all the clearing and digging to start again. Any volunteers?
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if you're in whitley bay i'll volunteer to help but i have a feeling you're not!!!
good news on the new plot though, hope you have better luck there.
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I have only just read this thread and would like to say that my heart goes out to both BL & Miss B. I have had the vandals in my garden, pulling up plants just for the sake of it and have been absolutely gutted, so cannot imagine the sadness and anger you both must have felt from your recent experiences.
There is nothing more for me to say that hasn't already been said by all the others, except that I do hope you can somehow manage to put these horrendous experiences behind you both and start again.
Pat
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Comisserations to you both, and 'nihil illigitimae carborundum' (you can tell I didn't do latin at school, but it might fool the censor).
I found out that the strawberry thieves have been on our allotment (fortunately not my plot -as I have my strawbs up at the house) -gutting for those who were growing them. The organisers wife found out when she went down to pick a couple of bowl fulls she'd been promised, berries were gone and the plants trampled.
Jeremy
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Thanks so much for all of the extra comments, haven't been on the board for a few days. Horrified to hear about your news Miss Baritone. That is a shocking and despicable thing to happen to you. Some people have no shame! Sending lots of love and empathy to you.
Thanks so much for your offer Tim, fortunately I have managed to get some more cabbages.
Have sent lots of letters out in the last few days. One to the Head Teacher at W/B High School and the Chairman of the School Governors. Have also re-written to my local MP., and this morning spoke to the local Councillor. Can't believe after all that, something won't be done. The next step is the local paper, the Whitley Bay Guardian - feel in a real campaigning mood! Our local Community Officer is Frank Atkin, but he is on annual leave at the moment - he is a lovely man too.
Gavin we do a litter sweep in the Lottie Site and the surrounding area every so often and it is very good advice to be careful. We always wear thick gloves and use a rake. amazing how much stuff you collect. If only you could get money off bottles like in the past we could make a fair bit.
Probably won't be long before we read another thread like this one, but Thank you all once again :-* it has been very comforting for me to feel everyone's support and sympathy. :) busy_lizzie
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That is just rotten for both of you. Mindless moronic acts that make no sense to anyone, not even the ones who did it I've no doubt. Sympathies to you both and those who help on your lotties. If either of you are near me, you're welcome to anything I have not planted out yet. Please PM me if I can help.
Love n hugs
Lavender Newbie
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if you're in whitley bay i'll volunteer to help but i have a feeling you're not!!!
good news on the new plot though, hope you have better luck there.
Thanks legless. Afraid I'm not in WhitleyBay I'm in Hartlepool just a bit further south. Also thanks for your offer of plants Lavender.
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Problem with my generation and the generation that follows me is no sense of discipline. Parents can be arrested and locked up for punishing their kids. My father punished me and I hope i've grown right. I'm 22 by the way. Another thing we should have never got rid of was national service. Even if I do despise war, the services can teach a boy or girl discipline and a skill so that they can appreicate hardwork. They have it too easy. >:(
Rant Over
My commisserations <sic>
TrailRat