Campaign to rebuild community allotment destroyed by fire in Northallerton
'Bren's Den' - set up in memory of Paul Brennan - was destroyed in an arson attack in April. The proceeds raised from the vegetable produced there went towards the local hospice.
A Northallerton group - whose community allotment was burned down in an arson attack - say they're trying to rally residents to rebuild it.
'Bren's Den' was originally set up by friends and family of Paul Brennan, who died after a battle with cancer. The proceeds raised from selling veg at the allotment went towards the local Herriot Hospice, where Paul and his family were looked after.
The shed was set on fire and destroyed on the 17th of April, but a fundraising page has been set up to try and rebuild it.
The page description reads: "Absolutely heartbroken for these guys, it wasn’t just a shed - it was built in memory of a dear friend who used to sit out in the sun there when he was ill with cancer of which he sadly died at 52.
"The lads were trying to create something positive out of a negative. It had since become a place which helped them all with mental health and well-being through the covid lockdown. So much hard work and goodwill went into building ‘Bren’s Den’ it took them all winter.
"Only last week they all had a whip round to buy the wood to do the roof and decking to finally finish it by the end of lockdown. After this senseless arson attack to see it all destroyed they are heartbroken and feel like they’ve lost their dear friend all over again.
"I’m appealing for help to get this place re-built so the guys can carry on growing veg to raise money for Herriot Hospice Homecare who helped Bren and his family so much. Let’s get them back up and running with a contribution to build Bren’s Den again."
Jon Stephenson was a friend of Paul's and told Greatest Hits Radio York: "The whole community was involved in setting up the shed in our mate's memory.
"It was devastating when we heard about the destruction as we had only just finished building the shed. Paul was one of the sweetest and most beautiful friends; the whole town loved him and no one had a bad word to say about him.
"He used to come to the allotment in his last few months and sit with us. The allotment means so much to the community, and it helped a lot of our old friends who have been through difficulties in the pandemic.
"It gave people a place of solace to go during lockdown and enjoy growing veg. Herriot Hospice have helped some of our friend's kids get over bereavement, and they also do counselling for children's mental health. They do so much, and it had been going so well until this horrible attack.
"It was a horrible thing to happen after all the good feeling that had happened. Everybody has been so shocked about it, but the community is rallying around already.
"The GoFundMe page has been set up and any overspill after rebuilding the shed will go back into the Paul Brennan tribute fund for the hospice".