Corby volunteer's dismay at brand new woodland noticeboard destroyed by senseless vandalism

The chairman of a Corby volunteer group has said how depressed and angry he is by the senseless destruction of a bespoke noticeboard made for the town's woodland.

Steve Scrutton, who heads the Friends of King's Wood Local Nature Reserve group, had helped to install the two-metre tall wooden sign in the heart of the wood last Tuesday.

It took five volunteers three hours to erect the handmade bulletin board - locally made from Rockingham Forest timber - into the ground and add the notices under the pitched roof.

But on Sunday night, on a dog walk, Steve discovered the whole noticeboard had been smashed into pieces and destroyed.

He said: "I was depressed and then angry at the senselessness of it all. We were really looking forward to using the noticeboard.

"I just don't understand the motivation and the thinking behind why someone would do this. The Friends group members are aghast. It wasn't the cost - it's just so frustrating."

The noticeboard was made by a volunteer at nearby East Carlton Park as part of their social enterprise at Foxy's Shop based in the beauty spot.

Steve said: "We were given grants by Corby Borough Council and Northamptonshire Community Foundation so we bought some signs for the entrances to King's Wood.

"We had some money left over so we decided to buy a noticeboard to show information about the area.

"We have had someone cutting down saplings with an axe, some of them have been burned, but mostly it's just for the sheer hell of it."

Steve believes that the sign was destroyed between 7.30pm and 9.30pm on Sunday, July 12, as a friend confirmed that the noticeboard was still standing when he passed it.

Rebecca Jenkins, Corby Woodland Manager for Corby Council, said: "It's devastating and awful for Corby Council, but especially for the Friends group and all the volunteers.

"They have put so much work into it - none of them get paid. It's soul destroying. The person who did this is a mindless fool. It was obviously done with a baseball bat or golf club - this was not done with bare hands."

The remains of the noticeboard will be left in the woods until Saturday when the 20-person-strong group will hold a regular litter pick and clear-up.

Steve added: "We are all a bit sad about what's happened. We don't know if we will replace it.

"I would like to meet the person who did it and show them how important the woods are, and how lucky the people of Corby are to have the woods on their doorsteps.

"It's a wonderful resource to be treasured, not pillaged."

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said: "This happened sometime between 5pm and 9.45pm on Sunday, July 12 when a handmade sign in the forest was destroyed.

"Anyone with information is encouraged to contact us by calling 101."

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