Heartless vandals trash new play tunnel at popular Sheffield park

Yobs tore down branches from the willow arch put up at Woodseats Playground in Graves Park by the newly-created friends group.

The thugs also ripped out flowers and daubed graffiti across brand new planters which had been filled by youngsters from a local nursery.

The community group was set up at the end of last year to try and improve the popular park at the bottom of Cobnar Road in Woodseats.

James Keegan from the Friends of Woodseats Playground: Graves Park said: "They ripped up the plants, graffitied the planters and tore the branches from the willow tunnel - just three days after the work was carried out.

"It's such a shame because we'd had a lovely day, despite the snow, wind and rain, and worked together to build a fantastic willow tunnel.

"I don't think they are bad kids, but they are obviously just bored.

"We don't want to come across as being heavy handed - we want to engage with as many members of the community as possible and see what they want for the park, although obviously we want this antisocial behaviour to stop.

"We don't want a small number of people to spoil this for everyone else."

The incident has been reported to South Yorkshire Police and James urged anyone with information about vandalism at the park to contact police.

He said: "We ask that if you see an act of vandalism or antisocial behaviour that you report it to the police by calling 101, however small you may think it is.

"You can also contact your local councillors and MP. It may feel at times that there is no point but we have to try."

The friends group is hoping to secure funding to make more improvements at the park.

The willow tunnel was created thanks to help from rangers from Ecclesall Woods Woodland Discovery Centre and materials donated by Sheffield Council.

Anyone with information about the incident, on February 14, is asked to call police on 101.