New Community Gardens Get a Green Welcome From Vandals with Destructive Plan

A community garden created by volunteers in Reading has been damaged just days after council workers began transforming the space into a shared area for residents. Staff from Reading Borough Council spent four days volunteering to create the first stage of the garden near the town Civic Centre. However, early on Monday, two men allegedly attempted to burn plants, damaged pots and pulled a tree from the ground before leaving the area. One of the men also urinated on the garden, according to the council. Council leader Liz Terry said CCTV footage had been handed over to police and urged anyone with information to contact officers. She described the incident as deeply disappointing, while saying the project would continue despite the damage. The garden was developed by council workers Catherine Lewis, Rebecca Moon and Stephen Vigar from the public protection and planning department. The project received £13,000 in National Lottery funding to help turn the area into a community-focused green space. Lewis said the damage was particularly disappointing because council colleagues had volunteered their own time to establish the garden. However, she said volunteers remained committed to developing the project. The long term plan is to create an inclusive space where residents, community groups and the council nursery can connect with nature. Organisers also hope the garden will provide opportunities to learn about healthy eating and encourage greater environmental awareness. The incident has temporarily disrupted the project's early progress, but organisers say the vandalism will not stop the community garden from moving forward.