Police appeal for information as vandals target a Lockerbie nature reserve
Nearly £1000 worth of damage has been done since the end of April
Community Police are asking for assistance in identifying those responsible for a prolonged period of vandalism and anti-social behaviour at Eskrigg Nature Reserve in Lockerbie.
Over the last six weeks, around £1000 worth of damage has been done to signs, commemorative plaques, bird hides, and bird feeders amongst other parts of reserve infrastructure.
The Nature Reserve is maintained by volunteers from Lockerbie Wildlife Trust, and is well used by visitors and the local community.
Manager of Eskrigg Nature Reserve Jim Rae says vandals are treating it like a game: “They seem to think it’s a fun activity from their point of view, but it’s anything but for everyone else.”
Locals want the damage to stop
“The local people are very supportive. They give me a ring if they see anything untoward."
Mr Rae says vandals are now impacting accessibility around the reserve: “They’ve been removing the door catches from the red squirrel hide and kingfisher hide. These catches are for holding doors open so that disabled people can access on a wheelchair or mobility scooter, and of course without these catches the doors can’t be held open and it’s limiting their access.”
Damage is also affecting the animals:
“When the feeders are down, there’s no food there for the wildlife.”
“With the duck feeder being vandalised, a lot of the wheat has been thrown into the pond, and it sinks to the bottom in the mud and it’s no use to anybody. And that’s expensive, the cost of wheat is not cheap nowadays. It means the wildlife has to go without till I can repair the feeder and get more wheat.”
It's hoped Police involvement may help find those responsible. Jim Rae says he's thankful for the effort: “I’d like to say how much I appreciate PC John Cowan's input as of yesterday. He’s put up a couple of notices to help make people aware. I really appreciate that and all the members of the trust and visitors who keep me informed about what they see.”
Anyone with any information on the antisocial behaviour can pass information on to PC John Cowan, quoting PDG0105800523.